Panama (1556-98)-Pa Bo 4 reales
This specimen was lot 1197 in Sedwick Auction 37 (Winter Park, FL, May 2025), where it sold for $16,800. The catalog description[1] noted, "PANAMA, Panama City, cob 4 reales, Philip II, assayer oB to left, mintmark AP above denomination IIII to right, very rare, ex-Santiago (1585). Solid coin despite heavy surface corrosion, nicely toned, with oB to left and mintmark AP to right barely visible, the latter with denomination in Roman numerals below (either IIII or the known error III), most of crown and some legend, the full cross and shield also somewhat doubled, XF details overall. From the Santiago (1585), pedigreed to the Steve Valentine Collection, with original certificate from the salvor/conservator." Cayón attributes the PA mintmark to Upper Peru (Potosi) but most authors attribute it to Panama City, which operated briefly in the reign of Philip II. An insalubrious climate and pirate attacks discouraged the development of a mint. Four, two, one and half reales were struck but all are rare.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.73 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 11.40 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-3718, S-AP4; KM-4; Cal-517.
- 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 Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 37, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Almenara Collection of Colonial Peruvian Gold Coins, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2025.
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