Watch List notes:

BOLIVIA. Cob 4 Reales, ND (1649-51)-P. Potosi Mint; Assayer Juan Rodriguez de Rodas (O). Philip IV. PCGS Genuine--Salt Water Damage, VF Details.
KM-17B; Cal-1107. Weight: 13.26 gms. This salvaged cob displays satisfying detail despite its noted saltwater damage. The obverse shows a mintmark, denomination, and identifiable assayer's marks. The reverse is more impressively preserved, with sharp castles and lions, albeit overstruck with the crowned "L" stamp that indicates a devaluation. Most pleasingly, the final two digits of the date appear on the rim, truncated but unmistakable. An appealing example of this RARE issue, with abundant detail to admire.

Intriguingly, the date uses an Arabic numeral "5" instead of the typical Spanish 5. From our research, it appears that this more modern digit was used only occasionally in the two years of assayer Rodas' tenure, as under the succeeding assayer "E" (and the subsequent coinage reformation beginning in 1652) usage reverted to the traditional Spanish 5. The Arabic 5 was not used again widely in Spanish colonial silver issues until 1755, over a century later. To view all items from the Pat Johnson Collection, click here.

From the Pat Johnson Collection.

Privately purchased from Mike Dunigan.

Estimate: $400 - $600