Peru 1751-L R 2 reales
This specimen was lot 731 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU, Lima, cob 2 reales, 1751 R, flipover double-strike, rare. Broad, odd-shaped flan with two dates on pillars side, including full 751 in legend (very rarely seen) on same part of edge where cross appears from flipover double-strike, full left-hand pillar, nearly full cross with partial third date below, three assayers, deeply toned About Fine. Pedigreed to the Jorge Ugaz Collection of Lima Silver Cob 2 Reales." Cob two reales were struck at the Lima mint 1747-52 for Ferdinand VI of Spain and became the "two bits" of pirate lore. In 1732, the Mexico City mint began minting pillar coinage but the Lima mint would not follow suit until 1751-52. The gold coins were converted to portrait coinage in 1751 and pillar coinage was introduced in 1752. Assayer R is recorded for 1749-52. Specimens with legible dates are scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 5.43 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-10389, S-L23; KM-A43; Cal-263.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Auction 38, 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, 2025.
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