Peru 1696-L H 8 reales
This specimen was lot 469 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $1,440. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU, Lima, cob 8 reales, 1696 H. Elegantly toned AU with bold interiors but mostly flat peripheries, full pillars and cross." Despite pleas from locals in Lima for a mint, Spanish authorities preferred to concentrate coinage production at Potosi in Upper Peru. The mint was shuttered multiple times by orders from Spain, not to reopen permanently until 1684. Cob eight reales were struck at the Lima mint 1684-1701 for Charles II of Spain and became the "pieces of eight" of pirate lore. Specimens with legible dates bring triple those without. Assayer Hurtado ("H") stamped coins 1695-1710.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27.16 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7676; S-L13; KM-24; Cal-601.
- 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]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 36, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Luis R. Ponte collection, the Jorge Becerra Collection and the John M. O'Brien collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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