SSP-Counterstamped 8 Reales - Potosi Mint - 1650s

danglen

Actually, I'm not really trying to push this item, just thought it was a really neat piece and I wanted to share. I bought it as part of a lot of early 8 Reales Pillar & Waves pieces which I just posted on my website. Here is the story that goes along with the piece.

"Peru - Shipwreck "La Capitana" - 8 Reales - 1650s - COUNTER STAMPED --- This AUTHENTIC counterstamped 8 Reales cob, struck between 1647 and 1652 under the rule of Philip IV of Spain, was salvaged from the treasure ship Jesus Maria de la Limpia Concepcion, better known as "La Capitana." The huge galleon on the Armada del Mar del Sur was lost near Chanduy, Ecuador in 1654 while sailing from Peru to Panama. This piece of history came from the Potosi mint, which was located next to a 16,000 foot mountain of silver that furnished the Spanish Empire with the material for much of its coinage for three centuries. The revalidation counterstamp featured on this specimen was ordered by the king to guarantee full or fair value of the coins from the Potosi mint between 1640 and 1652. This infamous period of stealing, corruption and fraud at the Potosi mint ended in 1652, and several assayers and mint officials were publicly executed. As a solution to the mint scandal, a new design of coinage - the pillars and waves series - was implemented. The very first pillars and waves cobs were struck for only a few months in 1652. The design was so popular that it was used on coinage for the next 120 years. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity bearing the image of the actual coin as shown in the images."

Counterstamped 8 Reales

a039

Great coin! What do you use for your images?

coinpictures

Neat piece. Where is it listed in Krause? I couldn't find it under Peru or Spain...

danglen

Now that you mention it, I couldn't find it in my Krause either, at least not the counter-stamped version. However, I did get it from Paul Karon, who specializes in this type of material and has always been very informative in his description of the products he carries.

GDJMSP

This piece is not of the Pillar & Waves series, but then I'm not sure that you are saying it was. The Pillar & Wave series didn't start until 1652. While detail is sadly lacking it does appear to be authentic, including the design of the seal (counterstamp) - a crown circled with beads. But I cannot make out enough to determine the assayer. The book, 8 Reale Cobs of Potosi by Emilio Paoletti has an entire chapter dedicated to these sealed coins with a great many quality pictures for comparison purposes.

danglen

<< <i> This piece is not of the Pillar & Waves series, but then I'm not sure that you are saying it was. >>



You are correct, I was not stating that this was a Pillar and Waves piece but I did get several of them in this batch of coins