Peru 1785-L MI 2 reales

from the Stack's Bowers 2017 ANA sale, lot 23059

This specimen was lot 23059 in Stack's Bowers ANA Auction (Denver, CO, August 2017), where it sold for $998.75. The catalog description^[1] noted, "PERU. 2 Reales, 1785-MI. Lima Mint. PCGS MS-64 Secure Holder. Bold strike with frosty luster and quite attractive." This specimen is one of a series struck 1772-89 during the reign of Charles III (1759-88). Later issues (1785-89) were struck with the silver fineness reduced to 896 thousandths. As a class, colonial coinage of Peru is much less plentiful than that of Mexico, tho it is more available than the remaining mints. However, Harris^[2] noted finding about half as many Peruvian two reales of Charles III as that of Mexico, so it is safe to say that this type is common.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 6.77 grams, 0.896 fine silver, .195 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-11647, KM-76a.

Source:

• ^[2]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
• Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 2, 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.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2017 Denver ANA Auction: Ancients, Selections from The Richard Stuart Collection & World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.

Link to:

• Mexico 1785-Mo FM 2 reales
• 1785 ½ real
• 1785 8 reales
• 1788 2 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1785
• return to coins of Peru