Bolivia 1678-P E 8 reales
This specimen was lot 72148 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, June 2020), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 8 Reales, 1678-P E. Potosi Mint. Charles II. NGC VF Details--Corrosion. Nicely centered for the type with rich gray coloration on both sides. Obviously recovered from a shipwreck, a few instances of rust remain on both sides and add an element of charm to the appearance. The famous pedigree doesn't hurt either! Provenance: Ex: Pittman Collection." Royals are known of this type from the Potosí mint but all are rare. The regular cob issues are not nearly as nice. The years 1649-52 were a period of reform at the Potosí mint; it was found that the previous mintmasters in office 1625-48 had been debasing the cobs, a crime for which one official paid with his life. Assayer E is listed for 1651-78.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver.
Catalog reference: Cayón-7571, KM M-26; Cal-Type 77 #354.
- 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.
- Paoletti, Emilio, 8 Reales Cobs of Potosí, 2nd Ed., Buenos Aires, 2006.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The May 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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