Bolivia 1673-P E 8 reales

Stack's Bowers 2023 ANA sale, lot 51137

This specimen was lot 51137 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description^[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 8 Reales, 1673-P E. Potosi Mint. Charles II. NGC MS-62. Not surprisingly the finest of the date seen in the NGC population report (and the only such Mint State specimen by far), this nearly-Choice crown presents the typical crude method of manufacture by which the series is known, but nevertheless stands without any evidence of handling. The dual dates are quite clear, as are many of the other details and design elements." Royals are known of this type from the Potosi mint but all are rare. The regular cob issues are not nearly as nice. The years 1649-52 were a period of reform at the Potosi mint; it was found that the previous mintmasters in office 1625-48 had been debasing the cobs, a crime for which one official paid with his life. Assayer E is noted for 1650-79.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27.99 g.

Catalog reference: KM-26; Cal-704, Cayón-7557.

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.
• Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

• 1672 8 reales
• 1673 4 reales
• 1675 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1673