Peru 1698-L H 8 reales
This specimen was lot 470 in Áureo y Calicó sale 345 (Barcelona, March 2020), where it sold for €470 (about US$620 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"* 1698. Carlos II. Lima. H. 8 reales. Doble ensayador. Moneda exenta de pago de tasas de exportación. MBC+. (kingdom of Spain, Charles II, eight reales of 1698, Lima mint. Two assayer's initials, choice very fine. This coin is exempt from any export fee.)"
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 1685-1700 for Charles II of Spain and became the "pieces of eight" of pirate lore. Specimens with legible dates bring triple those without. This date comes with a dot over the 8 (shown here) or a rosette over the date.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.47 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27,38 g.
Catalog reference: KM-24; Cal-243, Cayón-7690.
- 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]Sisó, Teresa, Eduard Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta Publica 345: Colección Manuela Etcheverría, Barcelona: Áureo y Calicó, 2020.
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