Peru 1696-L H 4 reales
This specimen was lot 72020 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. Cob 4 Reales, 1696-L. Lima Mint; Assayer Francisco Hurtado (H). Charles II. PCGS VF-35. This RARE cob has quite a singular look, with a nicely toned broad flan. The obverse displays the denomination, date, and assayer's initial along with part of the city name in the outer legend. The revers features another clear date with a portion of the legend visible below it. The strike shows doubling throughout, but the mottled patina and nicely preserved details make this rare piece all the more interesting. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Purchased privately from Mike Dunigan." 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 Hurtado stamped coins 1696-1708. Specimens with legible dates are scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.33 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7508, cf. KM-23; Cal-471.
- 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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