Cartagena (1815) 1/4 real
The years 1811-1819 were the first years of liberation during the struggle for independence from Spain. The first republican coinage was issued during this period of 'La Patria Boba', except for the interval 1817-1818, when Royalists took brief control. In the case of the city of Cartagena, an early Republican victory turned into a siege by Royalist forces, and fell again after four months. This specimen was lot 51091 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $8,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "COLOMBIA. Cartagena. 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1815). Ferdinand VII. NGC MS-64. Exceptional in both quality of manufacture and state of preservation, this VERY RARE copper minor may be the finest example extant. The mintmark, star, and denomination are crisp and legible on the obverse, and a well-centered lion exhibits crisp detail. Save for glimmers of brilliant red around the reverse design, the coin offers a remarkably wholesome brown patina. This piece will undoubtedly become a highlight within the next collection it enters. From the EMO Collection. Ex: Norweb Collection (with ticket)."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: copper.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted, EMO-306.2 (Plate coin); KM-C1; Cal-Unlisted; Restrepo-102.1 (Plate coin).
- 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.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Restrepo, Jorge Emilio, Monedas de Colombia, 1619-2006, Medellin, Colombia, Impresiones Rojo: 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2024 NYINC Auction, featuring the Emilio M Ortiz Collection and a Symphony of Russian Rarities, the Rothschild-Piatigorsky Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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