Santiago Colonial Coins
SimonW
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A series I’ve been watching for a long time, but very very rarely buy one, because they’re usually in worse shape that these. I was delighted to land these two, they’re very hard to find. I’ve only seen three of the 1777, one that sold for more but in a gen holder (damage.). I feel like I got a serious bargain, I would have paid more, but I’m glad I didn’t have to.
I wonder if it’s because these were at the beginning of the auction, some of the first few coins offered. Does placement in auction order make a huge difference?
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I was watching much of the auction. My amateur take is that it seemed like relatively rare but lower grade coins were selling for almost bargain prices because most collectors prefer higher grades. I picked up a couple of Popayan 2 reales that I thought went very low for how good they looked.
For sure, that’s my assumption as well, if one of these showed up in even XF-AU (1777) it would go through the roof! At the moment, this is the highest grade at either service that’s problem free (there’s a single Fine that’s damaged in an NGC holder). I can’t seem to find anything on any auction websites either.
I would prefer a higher grade…but, whachagunnado?! It’s the best out there. Please prove me wrong and offer me something better!
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@threefifty feel free to post the coins from Popayan you won!
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The one and only coin I have from this mint is a 1 real from 1811. It's in awful condition (I'd grade it "AG"), but I only paid six bucks for it, eleven years ago.
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.
And I checked the 2x2 and found out how I bought it so cheap. The dealer had misattributed it as Mexico City mint. I don't think I even looked close enough at it to know it was Santiago until I brought it home, but I do recall I could tell at a glance that that mintmark wasn't "Mo".
Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"
Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice.
I am a big fan of Ferdinand VII issues, especially those with the Charles IV bust, so was glad to get these!
@SimonW , I love your Santiago 2R 1777. That is a very scarce date for Santiago, with approx. 10 examples known, all in VG or less. Congrats.
The 1776 is slightly scarcer than 1777 (imo), but here the highest known is a very nice VF ex Medina. Your example is also very nice, if in lower grade.
My 1776 is not too bad, but has some damage. My 2R 1773 is OK.
As I have mentioned before, all Santiago mint silver for Carlos III is very scarce in higher grades. Any coin Fine or beyond is a prize. Carlos IV is much more affordable.
@Eddi I’ve never seen nicer ones, those are very nice coins!
Were you saying the 1776 is tougher than the 1777? Could be, I know they’re both hard.
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@threefifty from what I recall the Popayan mint are very hard to find, very cool!
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These are the other two I have that round out my 1770’s Santiago coins. These are two much easier issues, in retrospect I should have bought a lot more at the recent Stacks sale.
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Not a design or mint for this design I follow closely.
There are so many scarce or rare coins from cobs, pillars, and portraits + the concurrent gold coinage, my observation is that collectors just won't pay up for most lower quality examples.
If this was the second installment of the Richard August collection, I was interested in the Mexico Carlos & Joanna P-58 1R which I think sold at a bargain price. (Less than the prior Heritage sale like 15 years ago.) Second coin was the 1760 Guatemala 1/2R.
That’s correct, I bid up the 1760 1/2, but bailed right at the end. I felt like it was right at the end of my justification on price.
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Quite nice, both. I admire the interest you show (hich I share!) for the Santiago minor issues.
As you mention, both are among the most 'common' CIII 2R issues from Santiago. 1775 is the most common from the 1770's.
My beat up, but still nicely detailed 2R 1776:
@eddi they sure don’t come with that many details very often! Never seen one with that much meat!
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Here is my only Charles III 2R from Santiago
I have two Charles III Real's, though the same date.
and the more recently acquired
Then my 4R Charles IV
Nice coins!
Latin American Collection
Somehow you’re going to find the ONE surviving Santiago 1777 2R in MS. 😂
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Although not a 1777, I was the recent underbidder (by agent) on the coin below and I'm still in a bit of disbelief that what I thought was a strong bid (6k hammer) couldn't get it done.
I saw that, an incredible coin! @JohnnyCache
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@JohnnyCache , very nice pair of Santiago 1R 1789's'!
That second example is in exemplary condition - may I ask what sale is that coin from?
Here are some more of my Carlos III coins from Santiago.
Your examples are beautiful!
It was from a recent Stack's Auction, the second or third group of what remained of the Richard August coins
I’ve slowly been picking these up, still learning the early Santiago coinage.
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Very nice! I am really glad to see the interest you show for the coinage of colonial Santiago.
During the Spanish Colonial era the Capitania General de Chile, as the area south of the Virreinato del Peru was called, was essentially a distant provincial backwater which generally lacked the fabled riches of Peru to the north. Silver coinage was scarce (far less plentiful that Alto Peru (Bolivia), Peru, or Mexico).
Are you planning on concentrating on the coinage of Carlos III, or expand to Carlos IV and Fernando VII ? That 1797 1/2 real of CIV sure is nice.
Thank you Eddi! It started a few years ago when I bought a Santiago 1/2R for something like $45, it was PCGS certified and I figured, a good portion of the cost off this coin is certification 😂. Then I spent some time looking at more of them, learned how rare the earlier ones are (including some of the information I got with my interactions with you.) and thought I’d give them a shot. I’m working on the 1770’s coins first, but won’t turn down a nice piece at a reasonable price. Carlos III is my first priority, eventually I’ll move to later dates I’m sure. They’re quite hard to find!
The portrait series never really appealed to me, but these Santiago minors are really cool!
You sure have a great set going on Eddi, years invested I’m sure!
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