SILVER COBS OF POTOSI, BOLIVIA, 1574-1773

Item # (click to see photo)

First listing date

ITEM DESCRIPTION

 PRICE

NOTE:  Items marked "Rimac River salvage" were recovered from the banks of the river of that name in Lima, Peru, where colonists would throw in small change for good luck, just like we do today in fountains in shopping malls!

Shield Type (1574-1652)

110713021001 December, 2007 8 reales, Philip II, P-B (4th period), nice full shield and cross, bold assayer, toned VF but oddly shaped (not round) and uneven in thickness. $350
010816021012 February, 2008 8 reales, Philip III, P-Q, bold king's ordinal III, nice full shield and P-Q and denomination o-VIII, cross all there but corroded, toned all over but probably salvaged (Atocha?), otherwise VF. $240
010807099017 February, 2008 4 reales, Philip IV, P•P (mid-1620s), quadrants of cross transposed, full shield and cross, somewhat crude edge, non-toned Fine+, scarce period. $185
010807095005 February, 2008 2 reales, Philip IV, P-T (ca. 1640), full shield (typically crude), full but off-center cross, patchy toning (probably debased silver), Fine+. $110
010807096004 February, 2008 1 real, Philip IV, P-T to right (rare, ca. 1620), with full and clear P-T, full shield and cross, AVF with attractive toning on fields. $110
010807096005 February, 2008 1 real, Philip IV, P•T• (ca. 1630), nice full cross and shield (both slightly off-center), full mintmark-assayer, some legend, lightly toned VF. $95
010807096007 through 010807096016 February, 2008 1 reales, Philip II-IV, various assayers (where visible), all decent, some holed, most with good crosses (good for jewelry), generally F-VF, 10 available. $75 each
010807099016 February, 2008 ˝ 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. $95

 

1652 transitional

080716111005 August, 2007 1 real, (16)52E, Type II, scarce, with clear 5 of date to left of off-center shield, 2 of date in legend to left of off-center pillars, the shield and pillars both full, also clear F-I-I(III) across top and E-I-E across bottom, AVf with flat spots. $165

 

Pillars-and-Waves (1652-1773)

010816111005 February, 2008 8 reales, 1664E, choice specimen with bold date between full pillars, clear mintmark P and assayer E on that side too, good full cross (well centered), not much legend except for PH of king's name, richly toned VF+ with hint of double-strike that was completely covered over by bold main strike. $495
010816113003 February, 2008 8 reales, 1667E, Charles II (visible in legend), nearly full cross and pillars (well centered), nice crowns, 2 dates and mintmarks, dusty AVF that is devoid of toning but no problems.  $395
110710181001 December, 2007 8 reales, 1669E, 3 full dates (scarce thus), the date in the legend rendered as "166" due to doubling (in legend only), bold waves (off-center), full cross, nicely toned Fine+ with flat spots and hairline edge-crack, also scarce as non-salvage. $395
010807095001 February, 2008 8 reales, 1764V-Y, choice specimen with 2 full and bold dates, 2 mintmarks, full assayer V, typically chunky with crude edge, nicely toned AVF. $425
010807099019 February, 2008 2 reales, 1685VR, broad planchet with good full cross (off-center), bold date above full waves, 1˝ dates and 2˝ assayers, Fine with  much flatness in periphery, lightly toned.
100716111017 December, 2007 2 reales, 1753C/q, rare over-assayer in 2 places, typically chunky cob but with 2 clear dates, about half of cross, most of pillars, no toning, AXF for era. $135
010807095003 February, 2008 2 reales, 1764V-(Y)-V, nice full cross, bold pillars and date, typically chunky and crude, lightly toned AVF. $135
010807096017 February, 2008 2 reales, 1766V-(Y), full date, nearly full cross, well centered but typically crude, Fine+, some spots of toning. $85
010807096019 February, 2008 2 reales, 1768(V-Y), 2 clear dates, good full cross and pillars, lightly rainbow-toned AVF.
110707053004 December, 2007 2 reales, 1772(V)-Y, interesting shape (round but with a point), great full cross, bold denomination 2, very attractively toned, VF. $135
080718151023 August, 2007 1 real, 1656E, 2 dates and assayers, bold king's ordinal IIII in legend, good cross and waves, Fine with flat spots but nicely contrasting toning. $70
010807128007 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1703, two full dates (rare!), nearly full monogram, good but off-center cross (enabling the full second date, which may be the first I have ever seen for this date), VF with dark toning in crevices. $75
060606697060 December, 2007 ˝ real, 1729, broad and crudely shaped planchet with nearly full monogram and date and cross, VF. $40
060606697052 December, 2007 ˝ real, 1733, nearly full monogram and cross, nice clean surfaces, AVF with some flatness. $40
060606697053 December, 2007 ˝ real, 1736, small, chunky planchet with bold date and good cross, AVF with toning in crevices. $40
010807096022 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1748, choice full monogram and high grade (XF+) on a rectangular planchet with nice toning, good full cross and date.
010807096025 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1751, choice full monogram, good cross, clear date, lightly toned VF, large flan for the type. $85
010807096026 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1755, crude planchet, nearly full monogram and cross, full date, small bits of toning, AVF for wear. $70
010807096028 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1757, most of monogram and cross and date but patchy toning and only Fine. $60
060606697064 December, 2007 ˝ real, 1758, broad planchet with bold date, most of monogram and cross, nicely toned Fine. $40
010807096023 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1767, rare with clear 67 of date, good cross, small part of monogram, non-toned VF. $75
010807096024 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1768, bold date (rare), most of monogram and cross, typically crude, Fine+ with toning on fields. $75
010807096029 February, 2008 ˝ real, 1771, rare, bold full 77 of date (last digit weak but certain), most of monogram, good full cross, AVF with very light rainbow toning on fields. $70