Spain 1864 real 7 point star
This specimen was lot 75695 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $288. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. Real, 1864. Seville Mint. Isabel II. PCGS MS-64. Bursts of cerulean clash with fiery red toning on this resplendent near-Gem. An enticing example and the sole finest certified by PCGS." This Spanish real was struck in Seville during the late years of Isabel II (1833-68). This type was struck in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville 1857-64. 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 20 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: 1.31 g, 0.900 fine silver, .038 troy oz ASW, 15.5 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Cayón-16863, KM-606.3.
- 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancient & World Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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