Peru 1729-L N 8 reales
The first specimen was lot 472 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU, Lima, cob 8 reales, 1729 M. Full pillars and cross (the latter slightly off-center) but all a bit weakly struck, technically no worse than AVF for actual wear, nicely toned at least and with very natural surfaces, scarce assayer for the date." Eight reales of this type were struck through the reign of Philip V. Assayer Negron y Colmenares ("N") stamped his coins 1728-40. Specimens with legible dates are scarce. In 1728, the silver cobs were debased from 0.931 fine to 0.917 fine with no change in design. The mintage of gold commenced in 1696. The second specimen was lot 692 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 39 (Winter Park, FL, May 2026), where it sold for $13,200. The catalog description[2] noted, "PERU, Lima, cob 8 reales Royal (galano), 1729 N, cross-of-five-dots at top, very rare, NGC VF 25, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Ugaz. Broad flan with bold full interior details and much legend including most of third date and king's name, great contrasting toning on fields, the waves slightly doubled, by our records one of just four known, apparently different dies from Lázaro 23 (rated RX), as a type particularly rare for being unholed and straight-graded, therefore appealing to the most discriminating trophy collectors. Pedigreed to the Jorge Ugaz Collection."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine silver, the first specimen 26.44 grams, the second specimen is 26.54 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-9314; S-L20b; KM-34a (unlisted date); Cal-1302. The second specimen is S-L21; KM-R34a; Cal-1265.
- 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.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [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.
- [2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 39, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales and the Darby Collection of Guatemala Silver Cobs, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2026.
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