Watch List notes:

VENEZUELA. Caracas. 4 Reales, 1819-BS. Ferdinand VII. PCGS Genuine--Holed, VF Details.
KM-C-7.2; Cal-1027. Variety with castle in the top left quadrant. Reported mintage: 18,000. A lovely example of this VERY RARE two-year type. This Royalist 4 Reales displays clear attractive details and wholesome surfaces with deep cabinet toning. A hole is noted at the 12 o'clock position, as is typical for the issue. Minor contact marks and circulation wear are evident, consistent with the grade. An elegant piece from the last gasp of Spanish authority in Venezuela.

The Viceroyalty of New Granada, which encompassed the northern third of South America, was among the first of Spain's colonies to show rebellious inclinations against the monarchy. With the Abdications of Bayonne in 1808, in which Napoleon Bonaparte deposed the Bourbon dynasty to install his brother on the Spanish throne, Republican-minded colonists had found the ideal opportunity to break free from the Spanish yoke. Caracas became a battleground between Republicans, led by the charismatic and ambitious Simon Bolivar, and Royalist forces. Three separate Venezuelan republics rose and fell as the tides of war tipped between the Republicans and those loyal to the Spanish crown. Royalist forces minted a brief series of coinage in Caracas before Bolivar defeated the Spanish at the Battle of Carabobo in 1821, securing Venezuelan independence once and for all. These final Royalist issues are now exceedingly rare and sought after.

To view all items from the Pat Johnson Collection, click here.

From the Pat Johnson Collection.

Estimate: $1000 - $2000