Peru 1776-L MJ 2 reales
This specimen was lot 75704 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), where it sold for $268.40. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. 2 Reales, 1776-LIMAE MJ. Lima Mint. Charles III. PCGS VF-35. From the Richard August Collection." This specimen is one of a series struck 1772-89 during the reign of Charles III (1759-88). As a class, colonial coinage of Peru is much less plentiful than that of Mexico, tho it is more available than the remaining mints. However, Harris[2] noted finding about half as many Peruvian two reales of Charles III as that of Mexico, so it is safe to say that this type is common. The fineness was lowered from .903 to .896 in 1785.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a better date.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.903 fine silver, .196 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11566, KM-76; Cal-589.
- 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.
- [2]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
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