Arequipa Peru 8 Reales

Boosibri

I added this rare 1838 Arequipa 8 Reales to my Latin American crown set at the Heritage sale last night. The coin came from the Monderno collection which was a small collection of mostly Peruvian coins formed in the 1950’s-60’s. When the owner died in the 70’s the collection sat in the family until yesterday’s sale. This piece is the second finest I have documented behind the Americas coin (Kargins sale of the Howdy Herz collection in 1983)

The Arequipa Peru 8 Reales are all genuinely rare and exist in both the Sunface style and the Standing Liberty design. If you are interested in the history of the mint or the creation of the Sunface design I suggest searching out the works of Horace Flatt, some of which appeared in the Numistmatist in the 70’s-80’s.

The 1838 Arequipa Sunface comes in two varieties, with human face and a very few, perhaps unique, version without the human face on the sun as seen in Sellschopp. The 1838 is the most common of the Sunface with likely under 10 gradeable coins extant with most in VF.

The 1839 Sunface is very rare with the Whittier example a wonderful uncirculated piece that I wish I owned.

The Standing Liberty style began in 1839 and was made in 1840 and 1841. Only damaged VF or worse exist for the 3-5 1841’s that exist with the von Schuckman coin being likely the best. I had a chance to buy that coin late last year as ultimately passed.

My 1839 Standing Liberty is a stunning AU55, second finest I know of, and from Eric Newman. Curiously, the coin was withdrawn from the last sale while Newman was alive and then sold in another sale after his death. Maybe it was his favorite coin?

coinkat

Congrats… both coins are quite attractive. I should look to see if I still have the Whittier Collection auction catalog

7Jaguars

Yes indeed!

WCC

What's the mintage on the one you bought?