Spain 1650-MD A 8 reales
This specimen was lot 1299 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 38 (Winter Park, FL, November 2025), where it sold for $1,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN, Madrid, cob 8 reales, Philip IV, 1650, assayer /\ over IB, vertical mintmark, unique, PCGS XF40, finest known in PCGS census. Bold strike with choice full shield and cross-and-tressure on a broad flan with nearly complete legends, bold full mintmark above assayer /\ (like an A but missing the horizontal bar) with traces of under-assayer IB, an unlisted over-assayer in this denomination (known in 4R), clear bottom half of date despite off-center strike, deeply toned all over, exceptionally well struck and well preserved for the type. (Note: The label notes “(1650-6)MD A,” but the date and over-assayer are there.)
This piece is from a rare and historically significant series of mainland issues struck soon after the Potosí Mint scandal of 1647–49, which led Spain to boost minting at home to restore confidence in its coinage. In addition to greater production at major mints like Madrid, several minor mints were re-opened to handle tons of silver from recalled and melted coinage. Long overlooked in the American market, these peninsular cobs are now gaining well-deserved recognition for their rarity and importance. With many one-year issues and countless minor varieties, these coins combine scarcity and rustic beauty in a way that is redefining price levels for the entire cob series."
This type was struck at Madrid 1641-59 for Philip IV of Spain while the Segovia mint was producing milled coinage. There is considerable variation from date to date; the mintmark can be M or MD (shown here) and the denomination can be "VIII" (scarce) or "8" (shown here; both exist for 1650). Cayón reports a 1650/49 overdate not mentioned in the SCWC.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.46 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27.23 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6405, Cal-unl (Type 311); KM-120 or 39.4, Dav-4404.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 2, 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns, 1600-1700, Galesburg, IL, 1974.
- [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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