Latin American Rarities ** 2011 ANA EXHIBIT **
BOLIVIA – 1652P E Eight Reales KM-R21

Owner Comments:

Bolivia was among the most valued of Spain’s New World colonies, as it was the source of tremendous mineral wealth. The crude cob coinage typically struck there for shipment to the mother country was supplemented with very small numbers of Royal Issues produced to show off the die work at its finest. Made with the greatest care, this glorious eight reales piece from 1652 is fully struck, well centered and almost perfectly round. All text is fully readable, including Potosi’s ‘P’ mintmark and initial ‘E’ of assayer Antonio de Ergueta. In one curious lapse, the dies are quite noticeably rotated from obverse to reverse.