Bolivia (1598-03)-P B 8 reales
The first specimen was lot 71154 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $432. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 8 Reales, ND (1598-1603)-P B. Potosi Mint. Philip III. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, VF Details. A bright Cob with bold well-centered detail. Some peripheral detail is indecipherable due to flatness and die shift, but both the Habsburg shield and cross with castles and lions are near-complete and attractive. Despite the noted cleaning, the piece retains much originality and eye appeal." The second specimen was lot 72022 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2024), where it sold for $456. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 8 Reales, ND (1598-1603)-P B. Potosi Mint. Philip III. PCGS EF-40. Well toned and mostly struck up obverse, with clear mintmark, assayer, and denomination. From the S.P. Rutherford Collection."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.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 26.98 g, the second specimen 27.03 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-4840, KM-10; Cal-910.
- 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.
- Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, October 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the S.P. Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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