Peru 1697-L H 4 reales
The first specimen was lot 557 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $2,280. The catalog description[1] noted, "Lima, Peru, cob 4 reales, 1697H, rare. Choice full cross-lions-castles and pillars-and-waves, well-centered strike with two dates and mintmarks, three assayers, lightly toned XF with tiny edge-split. Pedigreed to the Ponterio auction of August 1989 (lot #1299)." The second specimen was lot 72021 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[2] noted, "PERU. Cob 4 Reales, 1697-L. Lima Mint; Assayer Francisco Hurtado (H). Charles II. PCGS Genuine--Environmental Damage, EF Details. This cob exhibits rough and very dark surfaces, yet it remains a highly attractive and pleasing example. The coin is well-struck and well-centered on a round flan, and displays excellent details. The obverse includes two mintmarks, the denomination, the assayer's initial, and the date, each with sharp detail and bold contrast against the fields. All peripheral details on the obverse are lost with the exception of the mintmark, but the central cross with its castles and lions is handsomely presented with fine strike and style. An unusually complete example with terrific eye appeal; not to be overlooked on account of its designation. From the Pat Johnson Collection." 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 his coins 1696-1710. Specimens with legible dates are scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 13.36 g, the second specimen 13.55 g.
Catalog reference: S-L13; KM-23; Cal-472, Cayón-7510.
- 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.
- 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 and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 28, featuring the Dr. Peter Jones and John O'Brien collections, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.
- [2]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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