Spain 1857 20 reales 6 point star
This specimen was lot 34302 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $2,160. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. 20 Reales, 1857. Madrid Mint. Isabel II. NGC MS-63. Approaching prooflike quality in the obverse fields, this lovely Select Mint State 5 Pesetas benefits from a bold strike as well, with wisps of soft tan tone confirming originality. Absolutely RARE in this quality, as it exists as the sole MS-63 graded by NGC with a single example seen finer. From the Avrabanel Collection." This Spanish twenty reales was part of the first decimal reform of 1850-64. In 1850, the twenty reales was reduced to 26.91 grams. This having proven unsatisfactory, the coinage was reformed again in 1864. The twenty reales was dropped in favor of a two escudos silver coin, reduced to 25.96 grams. One hundred centimos = one escudo. Instead of the traditional "M" and "S" mintmarks the issues are distinguished by three, four, six, seven or eight pointed stars on the reverse (for Segovia, Jubia, Madrid (shown here), Seville and Barcelona). Unfortunately, the government, financially prostrate as usual, was unable to remint the old coins, which continued to circulate as before.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 25.96 g, 0.900 fine silver, .751 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-17210, KM-609.2; Cal-Type 165#614, Dav-334.
- 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.
- Davenport, John S., European Crowns and Talers, Since 1800, 2nd Ed., London: Spink & Son, 1964.
- O'Connor, Patrick, The Coins of Queen Isabel II of Spain: A Detailed Study of the Coins, Patterns and Medals of Her Reign, San Antonio, TX: Aurora Rarities, LLC, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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