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BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1647 R, extremely rare, ex-Ponte, ex-Faistauer, Janson Plate.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Cobs - Potosi Silver Start Price:8,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1647 R, extremely rare, ex-Ponte, ex-Faistauer, Janson Plate.
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BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, 1647 R, extremely rare, ex-Ponte, ex-Faistauer, Janson Plate. S-P31; KM-19a; Cal-1482; Janson-13.27.3. 26.01 grams. This is one of the most exciting Potosí shield-type 8R we have ever handled, as it is a "smoking gun" for the debasement scandal that resulted in a global monetary crisis and the eventual execution of its perpetrators, most notably the assayer Felipe Ramírez de Arellano, whose initial R stands out so clearly and boldly on this coin. In fact, almost everything on this broad-flan VF coin is visible, particularly the full and bold date in the nearly full legend, in addition to the full shield and cross that are much more evenly struck than usual for this period, with nice toning to boot. Overall, the coin seems almost like a failed "Royal" striking, with no other Royals of this assayer known for comparison. Perhaps most interesting of all, confirmed by its dull color and slightly low weight, is this coin's debased silver content, XRF-tested at 76.86% silver and 22.77% copper. By our records, it is a unique combination of date and assayer, as the only other 1647 8R known are T, TR or Z, although R is also known for 1646 and 1648, the latter date also seen with Z/R, after Zambrano finally replaced Ramírez, just one year before his execution for fraud and the official recall and melting of nearly all his coins in 1649. This important coin has spent many years in the hands of important collectors and will continue to do so. Pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection and to the Faistauer Collection (Jess Peters auction of April 1976, lot 301), also to Sedwick Auction 18 (lot 635), Plate Coin on page 53 of Carlos Janson's La Moneda Circulante en el Territorio Argentino (2020).