Bolivia 1736-P E 4 reales

Stack's Bowers November 2022 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71212

Sedwick sale 34, lot 907

The first specimen was lot 71212 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $528. The catalog description^[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1736-P. Potosi Mint, Assayer Esteban Gutierrez Escalante (E). Philip V. PCGS EF-40. This beautiful Cob displays two mintmarks, two partial assayers, and a bold denomination and date on its sharp obverse. The reverse is relatively weaker, but shows the assayer and first digit of the date. The surfaces exhibit old cabinet toning with some luster and hints of amber color in spots. This problem-free and attractive example, with a bold date to boot, is sure to find its way into the cabinet of a quality-conscious collector. From the Pat Johnson Collection." The second specimen was lot 907 in Sedwick sale 34 (Winter Park, FL, November 2023), where it sold for $46,500. The catalog description^[2] noted,

"Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales Heart, 1736 E, unique, NGC XF 45, finest and only example in NGC census. The perfect companion-piece with the 8R Heart of the same date in this auction (lot 857), and a new discovery coin like that one, a unique date among only four dates known in the entire post-Louis I type, with (now) only eighteen examples of all dates of 4R Hearts known. By all accounts this is also one of the most beautiful Hearts in existence, with the pillars side perfectly aligned (the cross side almost so) with the top stem and bottom tail of a perfectly shaped Heart, well centered and nearly devoid of doubling, flatness, or damage besides the inevitable hole in the stem, also with darkly toned fields contrasting with bold details, a trophy that any collector would want (but only one can have)."

This type was struck for Philip V through his entire reign. Assayer "E" stamped coins 1733-37. The silver cobs were debased from 0.931 fine to 0.917 fine in 1728.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.54 g, 0.917 fine silver, the first specimen 13.88 g, the second specimen 11.06 grams.

Catalog reference: Cayón-9100, S-P46; KM-30A; Cal-1190.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• 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.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
• ^[2]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 34, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2023.

Link to:

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