Peru 1791-L IJ 1/2 real KM-93
This specimen was lot 75786 in Stack's Bowers June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2026), where it sold for $244. The catalog description[1] noted, "PERU. 1/2 Real, 1791-LIMAE IJ. Lima Mint. Charles IV. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, EF Details. Variety with "CAROLUS IIII" in legend and bust of Charles IV. From the Richard August Collection." This specimen is one of a series struck 1791-1808 during the reign of Charles IV (1788-1808). The years 1791-92 used a local bust. As a class, colonial coinage of Peru is much less plentiful than that of Mexico, tho it is more available than the remaining mints. However, Harris[2] noted finding less than one-sixth as many Peruvian half reales of Charles IV as that of Mexico, so it is safe to say that this type is fairly scarce. The fineness was lowered from .903 to .896 in 1785. Assayer IJ is listed for 1787-1803. The half reales of 1791 are divided into KM 83, with the bust of the deceased Charles III, and KM 93, shown here featuring the bust of Charles IV. The first was struck 1789-91 and is somewhat scarce while the second was struck 1791-1808 and is common.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 g, 0.896 fine silver, .049 troy oz AGW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-13230, KM-93; Cal-229.
- 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.
- [2]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, June 2026 World Premier Collectors Choice Auction - Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, the Richard Margolis Collection and the Kirk Menczer Collection of Republican Reales Minors, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2026.
Link to:
- 1790 ½ real
- 1791 ½ real, bust of Charles III
- 1791 real, bust of Charles III
- 1791 real, bust of Charles IV
- 1791 2 reales, bust of Charles III
- 1791 2 reales, bust of Charles IV
- 1791 4 reales
- 1791 8 reales, bust of Charles III
- 1791 8 reales, bust of Charles IV
- 1791 1 escudo
- 1791 2 escudos
- 1791 4 escudos
- 1791 8 escudos
- 1792 ½ real
- Coins and currency dated 1791