Peru (1659) 1/2 real

Sedwick Treasure Auction 36, lot 264

This specimen was lot 264 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $. The catalog description^[1] noted, "PERU, Lima, "Star of Lima" type, cob ½ real, Philip IV, (1659) (V), very rare. Bold monogram with crown above on one side and full cross on other, date in legend not visible but with distinctive details, contrastingly toned and a bit thin but not overly corroded, already rare as a shipwreck ½R but this type particularly rare. Pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 5, with original lot-tag 263 and Sedwick photo-certificate. Recovered from 'Jupiter Wreck' (San Miguel Arcángel), sunk in 1659 off the east coast of Florida." This type was struck 1659-60 during a brief period when the Lima mint was opened without royal authorization. "Star of Lima" cobs were struck in one, two, four and eight reales in silver and eight escudos in gold. The mint was shuttered again by orders from Spain, not to reopen until 1684. This example is too corroded to be sure but we don't think it ever bore a date or mintmasters' initials.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 1.14 grams.

Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted; S-L5; KM-14; Cal-545.

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.
• 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.
• ^[1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 36, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Luis R. Ponte collection, the Jorge Becerra Collection and the John M. O'Brien collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.

Link to:

• 1659 real
• Peru 1659-L* V 2 reales "Star of Lima"
• Peru 1659-L* MV 4 reales "Star of Lima"
• 1659 8 reales
• Peru 1660-L* V 2 reales "Star of Lima"
• Peru 1660-L* MV 4 reales "Star of Lima"
• Coins and currency dated 1659