Bolivia 1725 1/2 real
This specimen was lot 73498 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2025), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "BOLIVIA. Cob 1/2 Real, 1725. Potosi Mint. Luis I. PCGS FINE-15. From the Richard August Collection." This type was struck 1725-27 for Luis during his brief reign. Assayer "Y" stamped coins 1701-27 but the half reales bear neither mintmark nor assayers' initials. The silver cobs were debased from 0.931 fine to 0.917 fine in 1728. The weight of half reales varied more (i.e., more underweight) than the larger denominations.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 1.51 g.
Catalog reference: Cayón-10097, KM-32; Cal-9.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, October 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Decimal Minors and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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