Bolivia 1619-P T 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71062 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $2,040. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1619-P. Potosi Mint; Assayer Juan Jimenez de Tapia (T). Philip III. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, EF Details. Despite being a shipwreck find and having been lightly cleaned as noted, this 4 Reales cob presents impressive details. The Habsburg shield proudly displays its finer elements on the obverse, beside the mintmark and assayer's initial. The reverse features a well-struck cross and most of the final two digits of the date. An attractive coin with much to admire. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Atocha. With original ticket from Treasure Salvors, Inc." The mountains around Potosi contained enormous amounts of high grade silver ore, a situation the Spanish were not slow to exploit. A mint was set up in the 1570's to process the silver mined there. The early products of the reign of Philip II are fairly good quality but rot set in during the following reign, including fraudulent debasement. The Potosí mint was the second mint in the western hemisphere to date its products. Dating began in 1617. Assayer T operated 1626-36 and 1643-48 and was probably deeply implicated in the debasement fraud.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 13.48 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, KM-9 (unlisted date); Cal-777.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to: