Peru 1732-L N 8 reales
This specimen was lot 72026 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $2,880. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. Cob 8 Reales, 1732-L. Lima Mint; Assayer Joaquin Negron y Colmenares (N). Philip V. PCGS VF-30. This highly attractive 8 Reales piece is loaded with pleasing detail. The obverse offers two bold dates, two mintmarks, two assayer's initials, and the denomination. The reverse is deeply struck, presenting another denomination and mintmark with wonderful clarity. The coin exhibits some circulation wear but more than makes up for that with its strong strike. The obverse pillars and the reverse castles and lions are charmingly softened yet still well-defined. A handsome lustrous gray tone covers the surfaces, with deeper tones in the protected areas that add definition to the details. A piece dripping with eye appeal. From the Pat Johnson Collection." Cob eight reales were struck at the Lima mint 1701-46 for Philip V of Spain and became the "pieces of eight" of pirate lore. Specimens with legible dates bring triple those without. The fineness was lowered from 0.931 to 0.917 in 1728. Assayer N is recorded for 1728-39.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 26.59 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-9343, KM-34a; Cal-1306.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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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