Spain 1853 4 reales 7 point star
This specimen was lot 72309 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2021), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "SPAIN. 4 Reales, 1853. Seville Mint (7-pointed star). Isabel II. NGC MS-62. An exceptional treat for any fan of colorfully toned specimens, this nearly-choice example also provides stunning cartwheel luster when rotated back and forth in one's hand." This type was struck in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville 1852-55. Instead of the traditional mintmarks the issues are distinguished by six, seven or eight pointed stars on the reverse (for Madrid, Seville and Barcelona). In 1850, the twenty reales was reduced to 26.91 grams and the copper maravedis dropped in favor of 1/20, 1/10 and 1/5 reales.
Recorded mintage: unknown but a common date.
Specification: 5.26 g, 0.900 fine silver, 23.2 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-600.3, Cayón-17027.
- 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.
- O'Connor, Patrick, The Coins of Queen Isabel II of Spain: A Detailed Study of the Coins, Patterns and Medals of Her Reign, San Antonio, TX: Aurora Rarities, LLC, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The October 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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