Bolivia 1625-P P 8 reales
This specimen was lot 894 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 35 (Winter Park, FL, May 2024), where it sold for $660. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1625 P, quadrants of cross transposed, "flat" lions, very rare, ex-Ponte. Compact flan with choice full shield and cross, nicely toned AVF, with just the rounded right side of the assayer P visible but significant as showing date with bottom half of 6Z and what appears to be a full 5 (slightly doubled) for 1625, the existence of which was doubted by Paoletti ("some experts accept the existence of 1625 coins, although to this day, there is not clear evidence"), who pointed out that a dam broke in late 1624, impeding the processing of its silver output. Pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection and to Sedwick Auction 22 (lot 649)." This type was struck 1625-48 yet so few have legible dates that some years aren't listed in the SCWC, including 1625 and 1626. Assayer P is listed for 1628. In the 1630's rumors began to spread that the Potosí cobs were illegally debased, which became a major scandal when the government finally acted in 1648.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 27.03 grams.
Catalog reference: Cayón-6223; S-P23; KM-19a; Cal-1443.
- 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.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- 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]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 35, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2024.
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