Bolivia 1744-P q 8 reales

Sedwick Treasure Auction 28, lot 616

This specimen was lot 616 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 28 (Winter Park, FL, November 2020), where it sold for $8,100. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales Royal (galano), 1744q/C, unique (unlisted), NGC UNC details / holed. While holed as usual (right through the lower half of the 8 above the cross), this coin is exceptionally high grade and choice (well centered and evenly struck) and practically devoid of wear, somewhat low in contrast due to lack of toning, overall a beautiful example of the thick, small-diameter type of Royals from this period. Notably, the cross side is a die-match with Lazaro #299 under assayer C, but neither side is a match with Lazaro #300 (1744q), hence this is a new and unique listing entirely. Pedigreed to the Cayon auction of February 2017 (lot #50390)." The Spanish colony of Upper Peru produced hammered cob coinage at the Potosí mint from 1573 to 1773, with a major debasement scandal and subsequent reform occurring in 1649-1652. The royal or presentation issues are very rare and highly sought after, while the regular strikes vary in price according to the visibility of the date, mint, and assayer initials. Assayers "C" and "q" are both listed for 1744.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 26.78 grams.

Catalog reference: S-P50; KM-R31a (unlisted date); Cal-unl (Type 174), Cayón-9454.

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.
• Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
• Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
• ^[1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 28, featuring the Dr. Peter Jones and John O'Brien collections, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.

Link to:

• 1743 8 reales
• 1744-q 2 reales
• 1744-C 4 reales
• 1744-q 4 reales
• 1744-C 8 reales
• 1745 real
• 1745 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1744