|
 SILVER
COBS OF POTOSI, BOLIVIA,
1574-1773
When it
comes to silver cobs, no mint was more prolific than Potosí, Bolivia, where an
entire mountain of silver was discovered in the early 1500s. It took a little
while before authorities figured out that a mint was needed on site, where the
silver was being mined, even though the extreme remoteness and elevation
presented major problems that were never fully resolved. The most egregious
problem, perhaps, was an almost lawless environment where silver barons
controlled the government and took full advantage by owning and profiting from
mint offices and even by debasing the silver itself, causing a major scandal
that put the entire world on its financial ear in the mid-1600s. Up to that
point Potosí struck shield-type cobs, some of which were then recalled and
either melted or countermarked (to attest to proper fineness) in 1652. To
rectify the whole system, a new design was begun in that year, starting with
some "transitional" issues and culminating in the pillars-and-waves design that
became a global mainstay again throughout the rest of the 1600s and most of the
1700s. In 1773 the last cob ever struck came off the press in Potosí, long since
superseded by milled coins (begun there in 1767).
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Description |
Item# |
Price |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, Philip III, P-R (curved leg).
Choice broad-planchet specimen with bold assayer, full shield and cross (slightly doubled), VF+ with a light dusting of contrasting sediment throughout. |
g010907453002 |
$325 |
 |
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, (16)32T, rare.
Odd-shaped flan with bold .P.T. and 2 of date (right side of the 3 clear as well), full but partially flat shield and cross, lightly toned VF. |
g041010051001 |
$375 |
 |
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 163(?)TR.
Full mintmark and assayer, good full cross, nearly full but off-center shield, bold 16 of date, Fine+ with especially crude peripheries. |
g041010051009 |
$240 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 164(?), assayer not visible.
Round flan with bold full shield, cute little denomination 8 to right, doubled cross one full "furry" lion and full 16 and clear 4 of date, VF with spots of orange encrustation. |
g041010051007 |
$240 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, (1640s), assayer not visible, with possible unofficial countermark at edge, rare.
Crude as usual for issue, with most of shield and well-detailed lion and castle, toned VF with flat areas and minor edge-split, but potentially valuable as showing a semicircular depression at the edge that looks like a contemporary but unofficial attempt to re-create an arms countermark. |
g040904191041 |
$240 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4
reales, Philip II, P-A.
Round flan with good full
cross, full shield, AVF with spots of toning, desirable as pedigreed to the
Mark Bir collection. |
g110904191014 |
$195 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, Philip II, P-B (5th period), borders of x's.
Broad and somewhat oddly-shaped flan, crude (weak details) but clear borders of x's, About Fine with some toning and sediment. |
g011003074004 |
$100 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, Philip II, P-B (5th period).
Typically thick, round flan with full shield and cross (the latter weak due to natural concavity) , lightly toned Fine, desirable as similar to Atocha (1622) specimens. |
g080916161002 |
$95 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, Philip III, P-R.
Good full cross with contrasting sediment, full P-R and shield, lightly old-toned About Fine, great for jewelry and popular as identical to specimens from the Atocha (1622). |
g041003126013 |
$110 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1/2 real, Philip III or IV, scarce type with no mintmark nor assayer.
Nice specimen with full cross, full but doubled monogram, distinctive crown, toned VF. |
g010807099016 |
$85 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1/2 real, Philip IV, no assayer, PLVS (VLTRA) in legend (scarce type).
With full monogram and cross, some clear legend, Fine with some dark sediment. |
g070818151036 |
$75 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1/2 real, Philip IV, no assayer, (PLVS VLTRA) in legend (scarce type).
Full monogram and cross, crude VF with flat spots, a bit silvery but starting to tone. |
g041003126009 |
$75 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1669E.
Very choice full cross with "669" date below, plus bold king's ordinal II in
legend, also full pillars-and-waves (nicely centered but very slightly
doubled) with clear second date, 3 mintmarks and assayers overall, VF+ with
contrasting fine sediment on fields. |
g051003147003 |
$435 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1669E.
Three full dates (the one in the legend oddly missing the last digit), good but off-center waves and pillars, Fine with minor edge-crack, variable thickness, nicely toned. |
g110710181001 |
Reduced!$325 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1672E.
Two dates, 3 assayers and mintmarks, good full cross and pillars, nicely old-toned VF, scarce as non-salvage. |
g010907466002 |
$395 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales,
1677E. Good full cross (slightly off-center), bold but doubled
pillars-and-waves with 2 clear dates on that side, 2 mintmarks and assayers,
Fine+ with toned fields. |
g051003147004 |
$325 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1690VR, encapsulated NCS genuine sea salvage.
Non-salvage VF+ (just a bit white and matte), with full but slightly off-center pillars, nice well-centered cross. |
g011003087004 |
$395 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1764V-(Y), nice.
Thick and chunky as usual, with nice full cross, bold but off-center pillars with full date, attractively toned AXF for the period. |
g011003066009 |
$325 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1767V-(Y).
Very thick and chunky, good full pillars, incomplete and lightlty corroded cross, AVF for type. |
g011003066007 |
$225 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4
reales, 1769(V-Y).
Very odd shape (sort of
triangular) and of very uneven thickness but very high grade (XF), nicely
toned, and with a good amount of detail (2 bold dates and bold denomination
4). |
g040706929017 |
$225 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1689VR.
Large flan, interesting shape, 3 assayers, 2 mintmarks, good full cross, one full pillar, lightly toned VF with peripheral flatness, oddly underweight (5.2 grams). |
g050804191047 |
$195 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1691VR.
Two dates, good full cross and pillars, AVF with some flatness, very lightly toned. |
g070818151017 |
$185 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1700F, variety with 00 of date as a sideways 8, very scarce (missing in Karon).
Nice full cross and full pillars-and-waves, both with clear date showing the variety, 3 mintmarks, Fine+ with contrasting toning on fields. |
g031003116002 |
$195 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1745q.
Good full cross, full pillars-and-waves, deeply toned VG, attractive shape. |
g041003126002 |
$85 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1751(q/E?).
Full pillars, good but off-center cross, typically chunky, toned About Fine. |
g110903025038 |
$85 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1753C/q, rare over-assayer.
Two dates, typically chunky, Fine overall. |
g100716111017 |
Reduced! $95 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1755q.
Crude strike, off-center cross, toned VG, interesting shape. |
g010907473014 |
$85 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1760V-(Y).
Nearly full cross and pillars, typically chunky, VF with spots of blue and black encrustation. |
g050804191049 |
$90 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1768V-Y.
High grade (XF) but very crude flan, 2 dates, lightly toned. |
g110903025041 |
$90 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1653E.
Bold date and king's ordinal IIII in legend due to poor centering, second date below cross, nicely toned AVF. |
g010706849068 |
$70 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1663E, full date in legend.
Thin flan with 2 full pillars-side dates (rare with 1663 in legend), full waves, most of cross but much flatness, VG for grade. |
g110903025046 |
$55 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1689VR.
Three dates and assayers, full but off-center cross and pillars, slightly crude Fine, pedigreed to the Mark Bir collection. |
g051004191027 |
$100 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1694VR.
Bold full waves, nearly full cross, clear date and 2 mintmarks and assayers but about 1/3 flat, Fine for actual wear. |
g080807329033 |
$50 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1704Y, 2-digit date between pillars.
Wedge-shaped flan with clear date and assayer, nearly full but double-struck cross, typically crude Fine. |
g080807329032 |
$55 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1712Y.
Scarce, clear date but otherwise crude, AVF with peripheral flatness, lightly toned. |
g090807367004 |
$60 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1713Y, rare date.
Full pillars and cross with clear main date, unusually good quality for the issue, typically crude edge, Fine with spotty toning. |
g080916022036 |
$95 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1714Y, scarce.
Nearly full cross, clear date, Fine with nicely tone fields, crude edge (as made). |
g010907473020 |
$60 |
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Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1752q.
Typically chunky, bold full date and cross, deeply toned Fine. |
g110903025064 |
$55 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1687.
Bold date but not much else (flat), toned Fine overall. |
g070818151047 |
$50 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1695.
Bold date, nearly full monogram and cross, darkly toned VF. |
g110903025043 |
$55 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1756.
Nearly full date and monogram and cross on very oddly shaped flan, lightly toned VF. |
g030907505044 |
$50 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1758. Good
cross, most of monogram above date, typically crude, AVF. |
g030907505045 |
$50 |
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Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝
real, 1767, rare.
Bold but off-center date
(usually off the flan), most of cross, lightly porous Fine. |
g030907505047 |
$55 |
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Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC
P.O. BOX 1964 | Winter Park, Florida 32790
Phone: 407.975.3325 | Fax: 407.975.3327
We welcome your order,
want lists, comments, material for sale or consignment and suggestions.
Please send email to:
office@sedwickcoins.com
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