Mexico 1616-Mo F 4 reales
This specimen was lot 72562 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "MEXICO. Cob 4 Reales, 1616-Mo F. Mexico City Mint. Philip III. NGC AU-58. We have here an extraordinary Cob 4 Reales of Philip III. First, the date is legible. Few 4 Reales Cobs of this ruler have legible dates. Second, the assayer initial, 'F' is fully visible. Additionally, we have a full cross and a full shield. This is the only example of the type graded as high as AU 58 by either PCGS or NGC. This specimen will be a sterling addition to any collection." The Mexico City mint added dates to its product in 1602 and Cayón mentions four reales of this type for 1602, 1605, 1607-14, 1617-18 and 1620-22 but not 1616. In 1728, cobs were debased from .931 to 0.917 fine silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.73 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.69 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, KM-37.2; Cal-763.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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