Bolivia (1578-82) 1/4 real
This specimen was lot 633 in Sedwick Auction 36 (Winter Park, FL, November 2024), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob ¼ real, Philip II, no assayer (style of 5th-period B), border of x's, extremely rare. Potosí cob ¼R are virtually unknown past the earliest issues, and this type with borders of x's is among the last. Almost all other examples with borders of x's known show a B to left and P to right, but this coin and one other appear to be the only ones lacking either of those letters, the border on the present piece clearly visible to the left of an off-center crowned castle-in-shield clearly without any letter punched over it or in between. The crowned lion-in-shield on the other side is full within a clear partial border as well. Bold VF overall, with slight surface porosity and some deep toning." This is the only issue of silver cuartillas from Bolivia during the cob period. The next issue of cuartillas was the lions and castles type commencing in 1796, over two centuries later. We suspect, but cannot prove, that base metal tokens filled the gap, to the profit of the local merchants that issued them. The SCWC lists only assayer R for this type but assayer B and assayer L are mentioned in Cayón. A variety exists with the mintmark "P" on the right and the assayer "B" on the left. The early products of the reign of Philip II are fairly good quality but rot set in during the following reign, including fraudulent debasement. Dating began in 1617.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.84 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specmen 0.89 gram.
Catalog reference: Cayón-unlisted; S-P14; KM-A1 (listed with assayer R only); Cal-unl.
- 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.
- [1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing, Connor Falk and Sarah Sproles, Treasure Auction 36, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Luis R. Ponte collection, the Jorge Becerra Collection and the John M. O'Brien collection, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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