Bolivia 1629-P T 2 reales
This specimen was lot 811 in Sedwick sale 34 (Winter Park, FL, November 2023), where it sold for $204. The catalog description[1] noted, "Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1629 T, rare. Bold bottom third of 16 and 9 of date outside of good full cross, most of shield with clear P-dot-T to left, About Fine with patchy dark toning." This type was struck 1625-48 for Philip IV. It was discredited in the debasement scandal of 1650-52 when authorities in Spain finally acknowledged that a cabal at the Potosi mint had been cheating the king for years. Assayer "T" served 1619-45 and must have been involved. The other mints were instructed to melt down the nonconforming cobs but coin shortages were such that they were counterstamped instead. Even so, the late dates (after 1645) are rare today.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 6.62 grams and likely debased.
Catalog reference: Cayón-5861, S-P26; KM-14a; Cal-899.
- 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 and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 34, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2023.
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