Peru 1839-Areq 1/4 real
The first specimen was lot 2032 in Classical Numismatic Group's auction of the Richard Lissner collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $7,260. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU, Republic. 1821-present. AR 1/4 Real. Arequipa mint. Dated 1839. In NGC encapsulation graded MS 63. Moderately toned choice uncirculated with full underlying luster. Extremely rare type coin. Only two encapsulated, both in MS 63. One of the rarest minor coins of Peru. Richard waited many years to find this coin, and it is a true jewel in the crown of the Lissner collection. Purchased from M. Louis Teller, February 2008." The second specimen was lot 30284 in Heritage sale 3042 (Long Beach, September 2015), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, "Republic 1/4 Real 1839 MS62 NGC, Arequipa mint. Highly lustrous Mint State with slight planchet roughness as often seen on this issue, yet essentially free of noticeable contact marks. A very elusive one-year type in any grade, very rare and most desirable in this fine quality. The finest known, ex-Whittier, example was sold by us for $8,050 (Heritage Auctions l6/2006, lot 17462). This essentially comparable coin should fetch nearly similar strong interest." This type was struck at Lima 1826-56 but at Arequipa in 1839 only. All Peruvian minors are scarcer in nice condition than the catalog values would indicate; among the quarter reales, only the 1855 is frequently seen. Many overdates are listed.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: .84 g, 0.903 fine silver, the first specimen Ø12 mm, 0.76 g, 6h axis.
Catalog reference: KM 143.2.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.
- [2]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World Coin Auction 3042, featuring the Read and Bob Bennett Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2015.
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