Bolivia 1743-P C 8 reales
The Spanish colony of Upper Peru produced hammered cob coinage at the Potosí mint from 1573 to 1773, with a major debasement scandal and subsequent reform occurring in 1649-1652. The period 1767-1770 saw simultaneous issue of milled columnarios. The royal or presentation issues are very rare and highly sought after, while the regular strikes vary in price according to the visibility of the date, mint, and assayer initials.
The specimen shown was lot 646 at Cayon Subastas auction held February 4, 2012, where it sold for 65 euros (about US$101 including buyer’s fees). The catalog description[1] noted "Potosí. 8 reales. 1743. C. BC/MBC. A pesar de tener un peso correcto, este ejemplar parece una fundición del XVIII-XIX, quizá emitida en el Norte de Argentina.. (Potosi 8 reales, 1743-C. Fine to very fine. In spite of having correct weight, this example appears to be a product of the 18th to 19th century, perhaps issued from the north of Argentina.)" Were the auctioneers politely calling this specimen a counterfeit?
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.917 silver, 0.7980 oz ASW. This specimen 26.6 g.
Catalog reference: KM-31a; Cayón-9445, Plt358.
- 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.
- [1]Cayon Subastas, Auction February 2012: Highly Important Collection of Spanish and Latin American 8 Reales and other Coins from the Spanish Empire, Madrid: Cayon Subastas, 2012.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- 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.
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