Peru 1780-L MI 2 reales
The first specimen was lot 528 in Áureo y Calicó sale 345 (Barcelona, March 2020), where it sold for €65 (about US$86 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"1780. Carlos III. Lima. MI. 2 reales. Ex Colección Manuela Etcheverría. Escasa. MBC-/MBC. (kingdom of Spain, Charles III, two reales of 1780, Lima mint. Scarce, about very fine.)"
This specimen is one of a series struck 1772-89 during the reign of Charles III (1759-88). Later issues (1785-89) were struck with the silver fineness reduced to 896 thousandths. 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.903 fine silver, .392 troy oz AGW, the first specimen 6,71 g.
Catalog reference: KM 76, Cal-1276, Cayón-11559.
- [1]Sisó, Teresa, Eduard Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta Publica 345: Colección Manuela Etcheverría, Barcelona: Áureo y Calicó, 2020.
- [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.
- 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
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