Bolivia 1697-P CH 8 reales

Sedwick sale 34, lot 305

Sedwick sale 34, lot 834

The first specimen was lot 305 in Sedwick sale 34 (Winter Park, FL, November 2023), where it sold for $1,020. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1697 CH, rare. Solid and corrosion-free, with bold full pillars showing full date and clear assayer, bold but doubled cross with second date and assayer, peripherally flat but with contrasting toning in crevices, desirable rarity. With original photo-certificate MOW/1035 from the salvor. Recovered from: Association, sunk in 1707 off the Isles of Scilly, southwest of England." This specimen was lot 834 in Sedwick sale 34 (Winter Park, FL, November 2023), where it sold for $1,080. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1697 CH, rare. Full but doubled pillars-and-waves with both assayers clear, off-center cross with partial second date below, very chunky VF with light toning, edge-cracks." This type was struck 1667-1701 for Charles II. It superseded the shield/cross type which was discredited in the debasement scandal of the 1630's and 1640's. Assayer "CH" served 1697 only but left his mark on one, two, four and eight reales (the Potosí mint did not mint gold until the reign of Charles III).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 26.69 grams, the second specimen 27.25 grams.

Catalog reference: Cayón-7680, S-P41; KM-26; Cal-741.

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.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• 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, 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:

• 1696 8 reales
• 1697-CH 2 reales
• 1697-F 2 reales
• 1697-VR 4 reales
• 1697-CH 4 reales
• 1697-F 4 reales
• 1697-VR 8 reales
• 1697-F 8 reales
• Peru 1697-L H 8 reales
• Spain 1697-Seg F 8 reales
• 1698 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1697