Peru 1660-L* MV 4 reales

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Stack's Bowers 2022 NYINC sale, lot 2126
SB122-2126r.jpg

This specimen was lot 2126 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $8,700. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. Cob 4 Reales, 1660-L* MV. Lima Mint, Assayer Francisco Villegas (V). Philip III. NGC VF Details--Environmental Damage. The only example certified on the NGC population report. EXTREMELY RARE and very popular, the 'Star of Lima' types deviate in style from nearly all other cob types both before and after these were issued. This handsome and moderately worn survivor exhibits a decent strike with even wear displaying rich mottled gray tone. The central design elements are visible on both sides with a bold date and minimal doubling. Close inspection reveals areas of granularity accounting for the details designation. Despite its shortcomings a presentable example of the date sure to excite many collectors of this series. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Purchased privately from Mike Dunigan circa late 1970s." In 1659, the viceroy of Peru, Don Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, succumbed to the pleas of the merchant community in Lima and allowed a mint to open there. He did not have royal authorization for this and officials in Madrid were furious when they found out. He was ordered to close the mint forthwith and he was nearly dismissed. His sterling record of promptly remitting tax revenue to Spain saved him. The Lima mint was not reopened until 1684.

Wikipedia comments, "Don Luis Enríquez de Guzmán, 9th Count of Alba de Liste (born c. 1605) was viceroy of New Spain from June 28, 1650 to August 14, 1653 and thereafter viceroy of Peru, from February 24, 1655 to December 31, 1661). There had been a royal mint in Lima briefly, with the king's permission, beginning in 1565, but it was soon closed. Now because of a shortage of coinage, Enríquez de Guzmán ordered it reopened in December 1658, but without the royal authority to do so. It produced coins of 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 reales from January 1659 to April 1660, as well as 1 and 8 escudos from September 1659 to April 1660. These are known today as Estrellas de Lima (Stars of Lima), due to the large star featured in their design. Surviving examples are very rare."

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, .405 troy oz ASW, this specimen 13.54 g.

Catalog reference: Cayón-6171, KM-17; Cal-1015; Sellschopp/Grunthal-79.

Source:

  • 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.
  • 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 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

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