Peru 1748-L V 2 reales
This specimen was lot 532 in Sedwick Treasure Auction 27 (Winter Park, FL, May 2020), where it sold for $892.50. The catalog description[1] noted, "Lima, Peru, cob 2 reales, 1748+47V, Ferdinand VI, very rare. Bold full pillars with interesting double-strike that shifted the details up two rows (hence 748 date clear twice on that side), but even more interesting with 747 date below bold full cross on other side, which means it is not just a muling of dates but is also the earliest known issue of Ferdinand VI (whose ordinal is visible in the legend), VF+ with contrasting encrustation on fields." Despite pleas from locals in Lima for a mint, Spanish authorities preferred to concentrate coinage production at Potosi in Upper Peru. The mint was shuttered multiple times by orders from Spain, not to reopen permanently until 1684. Cob two reales were struck at the Lima mint 1747-52 for Ferdinand VI of Spain and became the "two bits" of pirate lore. The fineness was lowered from 0.931 to 0.917 in 1728. The Mexico City mint was converted to milled coinage in 1732-34 but Lima would not follow suit until 1751.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.917 fine silver, this specimen 6.53 grams.
Catalog reference: S-L22a; KM-A43 for type; Cal-unlisted, Cayón-10372.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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 and Cori Sedwick Downing, Treasure Auction 27, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2020.
Link to: