Watch List notes:

Potosi, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1634 T, rare, first cob collected by Paoletti, ex-Burzio, ex-Martini, ex-Janson, with hardbound copy #1 of Paoletti's book 8 Reales Cobs of Potosi (3rd ed., 2016). S-P26; KM-19a; Cal-1459. 26.78 grams. Choice round flan with lovely rich toning, clear bottom half of date and king's name, plus bold P-T and denomination dot-8-dot, the shield and (doubled) cross both full but with small streak of weak strike near centers due to uneven thickness, VF grade, definitely a premium coin even without its impressive pedigree. This important coin passed through the hands of several famous Argentine numismatists--Humberto Burzio, Siro de Martini and Hector Carlos Janson--before it was purchased by Emilio Paoletti in 1974, ostensibly his first cob and the inspiration for his grand opus that in 2016 culminated in the third edition of the 8 Reales Cobs of Potosi, his final work in this field. In correspondence he referred to it as "la primera moneda macuquina con la cual empece mi pasion por las piezas del virreynado y que me impulso a estudiar mas profundamente y coleccionar las mismas." Ironically, it was not plated in his book, so Emilio decided to memorialize this coin, which had so inspired him, by consigning it to our Auction 20 in 2016 (the last time it changed hands) along with copy #1 of his book, specially autographed for the occasion. We trust the winning bidder will be similarly inspired and perhaps become the next big scholar of Potosi cob 8 reales. Pedigreed to the Humberto Burzio, Siro de Martini, Hector Carlos Janson and Emilio Paoletti collections, accompanied by hardbound copy #1 of Paoletti's book 8 Reales Cobs of Potosi (3rd ed., 2016) and signed by him on the first page where the number 001 appears, with "Buenos Aires" and date 3.3.2016, also pedigreed to our Auction 20, with original lot-tag 777 and photo-certificate.
($1000-2000)