Spain 1862 100 reales 6 point star
The first specimen was lot 4430 in Goldberg sale 69 (Los Angeles, May, 2012), where it sold for $575. The catalog description [1] noted, "Spain.100 Reales, 1862 (Madrid). Isabel II, 1833-1868. Draped laureate bust left. Reverse: Arms in palms. NGC graded MS-63." The second specimen was lot 678 in Aureo sale 261 (Barcelona, July 2014), where it sold for €245 (about US$393 with buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"1862. Isabel II. Madrid. 100 reales. Bella. Parte de brillo original. EBC+. (Isabel II, 1833-68, hundred reales of 1862, Madrid mint, handsome, some luster, choice extremely fine.)"
This type was struck in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville 1856-62. Instead of the traditional mintmarks the issues are distinguished by six, seven or eight pointed stars on the reverse (for Madrid, Seville and Barcelona). In 1850, the twenty reales was reduced to 26.91 grams and the copper maravedis dropped in favor of 1/20, 1/10 and 1/5 reales. Unfortunately, the government, financially prostrate as usual, was unable to remint the old coins, which continued to circulate as before. The coinage would be reformed a second time in 1866.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 22 mm diameter, 8.38 g, 0.900 fine gold, .242 troy oz ASW, reeded edge.
Catalog reference: Cayón-17388, Cal. 27, Fr-331; KM-605.2.
- 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.
- 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.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Goldberg, Ira, Larry Goldberg, Stephen Harvey and Paul Rynearson, Goldberg sale 69: the Pre-Long Beach Auction, Ancient and World Coins, Los Angeles: Goldberg Coins and Collectibles, 2012.
- [2]Sisó, Teresa, Eduardo Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Subasta Pública 261, Barcelona: Aureo y Calicó Subastas, 2014.
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