Owner Comments:
This 1823 Real has history, rarity, premium grade, and pedigree to it's credit.
Though Peru declared Independence from Spain in 1821, royalist striking of coins did occur in 1823 and 1824. The royalists briefly took Lima from the Patriots for one month in June 1823, and it was during this time that they struck this Real (among other denominations).
All Ferdinand VII Reals are scarce in mint state, the 1823 in particular. This is the Whittier specimen, which has been re-holdered sans the Pedigree on the label. The 2006 Heritage description reports: "easily the finest known of this date struck after Lima was recaptured from the insurgents. A choice fully lustrous example with typical striking weakness at the centers."
Though there are two coins reported in MS 63 in the population report, it seems clear that both represent this single coin. CoinFactsWiki gives the details of the Stack's auction from January 2017 where I won it: http://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Peru_1823-L_JP_real
I have not seen another definite mint state 1823 Real, although a nice AU+ is seen on Worthpoint from June 2011. Thus, this is quite possibly the finest known as stated by Heritage, though of course nice specimens of rare dates do surface at times from Peru. The reverse is clean with rolling Gem luster and slight softness at centers. The obverse has full but more muted luster with softness and a couple stray marks on the cheek/jaw area. Very original and very solid for the assigned grade.
It is also tied with one other Real for finest graded for the entire type.
Photographs copyright Stacks/Bowers.