Peru 1699-L R 4 reales
This specimen was lot 72023 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. Cob 4 Reales, 1699-L. Lima Mint; Assayer Leonardo de Rojas Paramo (R). Charles II. PCGS EF-40. This is a highly appealing cob offering bold details. The slightly oblong flan allowed for most of the city name 'LIMA' to fit onto the obverse. The central devices display the denomination, assayer's initial, and date. The lions and castles on the reverse are quite well represented above a clear second date. The surfaces show light gray toning with darker areas surrounding the devices, adding emphasis to the already well-struck designs. A great looking piece. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Purchased privately from Louis Hudson." 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; his tenure was interrupted by de Rojas in 1699. Specimens with legible dates are scarce. The mintage of gold commenced in 1696.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.35 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7518, KM-23; Cal-474.
- 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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