Spain 1857 4 reales 6 point star

CNG Lissner collection, lot 948

This specimen was lot 948 in Classical Numismatic Group's sale of the Lissner Collection (Chicago, August 2014), where it sold for $1,573. The catalog description^[1] noted, "SPAIN, Reino de España. Isabel II. 1833-1868. Proof AR 4 Reales. Decimal real coinage. Madrid mint; im: 6 pointed star. Dated 1857. In NGC encapsulation graded PF 66 WINGS APPROVED. Gem lustrous proof with moderate varied colored patina. Only one graded. A fantastic looking coin. Extremely rare date. Purchased from Randolph Zander, December 1971." This type was struck in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville 1856-64. 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 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: 43,237. The SCWC does not mention proofs.

Specification: 5.19 g, 0.900 fine silver, .150 troy oz AS, 23.4-23.6 mm diameter, this specimen Ø23 mm, 5.24 g, 12h axis.

Catalog reference: Cayón-17036, KM 608.2.

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 Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
• 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]Teller, M. Louis, and Victor England, Jr., The Richard Lissner Collection, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, 2014.

Link to:

• 1856(m) 4 reales
• 1857-Seg 5 centimos
• 1857(m) 10 reales
• 1857-Seg 25 céntimos
• 1857(m) real
• 1857(b) 2 reales
• 1857(m) 20 reales
• 1857(b) 100 reales
• 1858(m) 4 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1857
• return to coinage of Spain