Chile 1781-So DA 8 reales

from the Stack's Bowers 2020 NYINC sale, lot 20216

This specimen was lot 20216 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2020), where it sold for $4,800. The catalog description^[1] noted, "CHILE. 8 Reales, 1781-So DA. Santiago Mint. Charles III. NGC VF-35. A VERY RARE date with pleasing moderate-to-dark gray toning that deepens along portions of the obverse edges, but is fairly consistent on the reverse. Sharply struck, this wholesome circulated example shows honest wear over the highpoints of the design, with several ancient marks that blend well into the coin's "fabric". While acknowledged as a rare issue by scholars in the fields, perhaps underrated compared to some dates that have acquired legendary-rarity status. Evidence pointing to this fact is the appearance of only this coin in the combined NGC and PCGS population reports. Furthering this assertion, no examples of the date appear in digitally archived auction records that, in many cases, span the last two decades. As such, an immense opportunity for the specialist, as the next chance to the acquire the date might not come for ages. From the Santa Fe Collection. Ex: Johnson Collection (Freeman Craig 5/1983) Lot # 109." Despite what seems to be a fairly substantial recorded mintage and nearly continuous production during 1773-89, Santiago portrait eight reales of Charles III are almost as scarce as pillar dollars from that mint. This date is listed as rare even for this scarce type.

Recorded mintage: 105,000.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.896 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Cayón-12080, KM-31; FC-19; EL-28; Cal-Type-110 # 1019.

Source:

• 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, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The January 2020 NYINC Sale: Ancient Coins, World Coins & Paper Money, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2019.
• Elizondo, Carlos A., Eight Reales and Pesos of the New World, San Antonio, TX: 1968.
• Raymond, Wayte, The Silver Dollars of North and South America, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1964.

Link to:

• 1779 8 reales
• 1781 real
• 1781 2 reales
• 1781 4 reales
• Peru 1781-L MI 8 reales
• Mexico 1781-Mo FF 8 reales
• Bolivia 1781-PTS PR 8 reales
• 1781 8 escudos
• 1782 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1781