Spain 1862 2 reales 6 point star
This specimen was lot 72313 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2021), where it sold for $70. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. 2 Reales, 1862. Madrid Mint (6-pointed star). Isabel II. NGC AU Details--Surface Hairlines. Lightly cleaned but starting to retone, this elegant specimen still offers great charm." This type was struck in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville 1857-64. 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). 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.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 2.59 g, 0.900 fine silver, .076 troy oz ASW, 18 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-607.2, Cayón-16938.
- 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.
- 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 October 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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