Bolivia 1646-P V 4 reales
This specimen was lot 71091 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $504. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, 1646-P. Potosi Mint; Assayer Geronimo Velasquez (V/T). Philip IV. PCGS Genuine--Environmental Damage, VF Details. A rough example, this Cob is extensively scratched and corroded. It is nonetheless a VERY RARE issue, displaying the V/T over-assayer mark. One of the conspirators implicated in the 1649 Potosi Mint Scandal (and subsequently executed), coins of Geronimo Velasquez are exceptionally rare. While the final digit of the date is unreadable, the presence of the assayer initial 'V' means this coin could only have been minted in 1646. The obverse is in poor condition and dramatically doubled, but the reverse retains comparatively neat castles and lions along with the legend 'ANO 164'. An almost impossible to acquire date and over-assayer, this coin is a remarkable survivor despite its shortcomings. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Paul Karon Collection (Ponterio 42 - 03/1990) Lot # 336. Ex: Sellschopp Collection (Swiss Bank Corp - 09/1988) Lot # 684." 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. This type was struck 1622-47, throughout the first part of the reign of Philip IV. Dates were added in 1617; even so, many are so crudely made that the dates are not legible. This type is rare; it was never made in large quantities and nearly all melted down in the great remintage of 1649-52 when the debased cobs were called in. Assayer V operated 1646 only.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 12.43 g and most likely debased.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6107 ("V/T"), KM-17A; Cal-1102; Sellschopp-515 (plate coin).
- 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
- 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.
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