View source for Bolivia (1651-52) 7-1/2 reales KM-C19.1

[[Image:Bolivia H3049-32519o.jpg|300px|thumb|from Heritage sale 3049, lot 32519]]
[[Image:Bolivia H3049-32519r.jpg|300px|thumb]]
[[Image:SB523-71156o.jpg|300px|thumb|Stack's Bowers May 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 71156]]
[[Image:SB523-71156r.jpg|300px|thumb]]

The first specimen was lot 32519 in Heritage sale 3049 (Long Beach, September 2016), where it sold for $329. The catalog description<sup>[1]</sup> noted, "Philip IV Countermarked Cob 7-1/2 Reales ND (1649-1651)-PE Fine, Potosi mint, Crowned "L" Counterstamp upon earlier 8 Reales 1651-1667. Countermark is quite strong, as is the assayer initials." The second specimen was lot 71156 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $552. The catalog description<sup>[2]</sup> noted, <blockquote>"BOLIVIA. Cob 8 Reales, 1651-P EE. Potosi Mint. Philip IV. PCGS Genuine--Chopmark, VF Details. A beautifully rustic 8 Reales Cob from the transitional period following the Potosi Mint Scandal of 1649. As such, it bears a crowned "L" countermark on the reverse, intended to revalue the piece at 7 1/2 Reales. There is also a small rectangular chopmark on the upper left quadrant of the cross, causing a bulge on the opposite side. Although the obverse is somewhat crude, the mintmark, denomination, assayer's initial, and part of the monarch's name all appear astride the central Habsburg shield. While the reverse date is mostly muddled, it can be ascertained thanks to the short duration of this design under the assayer Antonio de Ergueta. Fairly well-preserved and free from the commonly encountered die shift or saltwater damage, the coin presents its details with delightful boldness. Deep gunmetal toning enhances its eye appeal."</blockquote> The 1649-52 was a period of reform at the Potosi mint; it was found that the previous mintmasters in office 1625-48 had been debasing the cobs, a crime for which one official paid with his life. Cobs found to be 0.750 fine or below were ordered to be melted and cobs better than that, but not full fineness, were counterstamped to lower their value to match their metal content. This counterstamping was done at various mints but no one has been able to match the countermarks to the mints.

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown.

''Specification:'' 27.07 g, .859 fine silver, .747 troy oz ASW, the second specimen is 26.56 g. 

''Catalog reference:'' [[Spanish and Spanish colonial coins listed by Cayón number|Cayón-limonite]], KM-C19.1. The second specimen is KM-C19.2; KM-19B (for host); Cal-1491; Paoletti-251.

''[[Bibliography|Source:]]''
* <sup>[1]</sup>Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, ''Heritage World Coin Auction 3049, featuring the Ohio Valley Collection, the Redwood Collection and the F.P. Briand Collection,'' Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2016.
* Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, ''Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
* 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. 
* Menzel, Sewall, ''Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins'', New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
* <sup>[2]</sup>Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, ''May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks,'' Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

''Link to:''
* [[Bolivia 1650-P O 8 reales|1650 8 reales]]
* [[Bolivia 1651-P E 4 reales|1651-E 4 reales, c/s to 3¾ reales]]
* [[Bolivia (1651-52) 7-1/2 reales KM-C19.11|(1651-52) "T" counterstamped 7½ reales]]
* [[Bolivia 1651-P E 8 reales|1651-E 8 reales, c/s to 7½ reales]]
* [[Bolivia 1652-P E 8 reales royal|1652 8 reales]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1651]]
* return to coins of [[Bolivia]]

[[Category:Silver pesos of Latin America]][[Category:Cob coinage of Latin America and Spain]][[Category:Selections from Heritage sale 3049]][[Category:Selections from the Stack's Bowers 2023 Collector's Choice sale]]