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Mexico City, Mexico, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, "Early Series," assayer P over erased R at bottom bet

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Cobs - Mexico Silver Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:1,750.00 - 2,500.00 USD
Mexico City, Mexico, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna,  Early Series,  assayer P over erased R at bottom bet
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This item SOLD at 2020 Nov 17 @ 18:39UTC-5 : EST/CDT
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Mexico City, Mexico, 4 reales, Charles-Joanna, "Early Series," assayer P over erased R at bottom between pillars, motto PLVS in rhomboid panel, extremely rare, ex-Jones (Plate Coin). Nesmith-unl; Cal-70 type; S-M4; KM-unl. 12.49 grams. A rare example of early assayer P re-using dies of the last assayer-R types with rhomboid panel (for a matching example of assayer R, see lot 179 from our Auction 4 of November 2008); this coin was a go-between until new dies could be cut. Since Nesmith had never seen this variety or other die matches, he can be forgiven for not listing assayer P as the second assayer of the Mexico City mint. The rhomboid panel would be used in all subsequent coinage. This coin has AU details (mostly full legends) with dark toning and light surface corrosion all over making it likely from the "Golden Fleece wreck" (ca. 1550). Pedigreed to the Dr. Peter Jones collection, plated on page 60 of his book The First Coins of the Americas (2020), and to the El Mundo de la Moneda auction of September 2009, with original lot-tag #439.