Peru 1693-L V 4 reales
This specimen was lot 72018 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $780. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. Cob 4 Reales, 1693-L. Lima Mint; Assayer Juan de Villegas (V). Charles II. PCGS VF-30. This pleasing cob offers well-struck detail. The obverse displays nice full pillars with a clear denomination and date. Although no mintmark or assayer's initial is visible, both marks are present on either side of castles and lions on the reverse. The surfaces are toned to a deep charcoal gray that adds visual appeal to this problem-free example. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Sellschopp Collection (UBS Zurich 9/1988) Lot # 169 (part of)." The mint at Lima operated briefly in the 1560's before the Potosi mint was opened and operated again 1659-60 without the permission of royal officials. Not until 1684 was the mint opened on a permanent basis and four reales of this type were struck until 1700. Assayer de Villegas stamped his coins 1684 and 1689-93. Specimens with legible dates are scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.45 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7501, KM-23; Cal-468.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- 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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