683. Bogotá, Colombia, cob 1 real, Philip IV, assayer P to
right (ca. 1627), quadrants of cross transposed, rare. Restrepo-
M20.3; S-B4; KM-5. 3.31 grams. Full but off-center shield with clear •I•P•
to right, choice full cross-lions-castles, AVF, mostly nicely toned. Estimate: $400-$600.
684. Bogotá, Colombia, cob 1/2 real, Philip IV, no assayer (style of Ramos, ca. 1662), rare. Restrepo-M16.6; S-B7; KM-8. 1.62 grams. Richly toned but off-center XF with nearly full monogram with
clear PHILI- of king’s name, bold cross with proper quadrants (castle matching the known 1662) and part of legend. Estimate: $150-$225.
685. Bogotá, Colombia, cob 1/4 real, (1755), extremely rare. Restrepo-M91.1; S-unl.; KM-A29. 1.31 grams. This strange issue first came to light in 2008, at which time it was attributed to Philip V without considering that the telltale “tulip” border around the rims matched what was on the edges of 1759 pillar dollars and therefore is now believed to have been introduced to the silver cobs of Ferdinand VI (of which only these 1/4R are known to exist so far) in 1755. This specimen shows a rather weak but certain lion and castle in centers (call it VG, with toning), but much of the tulip border is present. The crazy thing about this specimen, unlike the others known, is that it has the weight of a 1/2R! Clearly there are more mysteries to be solved here, but in any case this is a very important type-coin which only four collectors at most can own. Estimate: $1,000-up.
Guatemala
686. Guatemala, cob 8 reales, (174)4J, very rare. S-G1; KM-6;
CT-604. 26.88 grams. Small, thick and sharply cut flan with good centers but very little periphery except for the mintmark G and full 4 of date (die style does not match 1734, the only other possibility), Fine with very light toning, no hole. Estimate: $500-up.
687. Guatemala, cob 8 reales, 1752/1J, rare overdate. S-G1a;
KM-12; CT-283. 26.13 grams. Broad flan with 100% full and bold date (the overdate not obvious but certain) and king’s ordinal, much central detail despite a large natural bubble-hole, deeply toned AVF for type. Estimate: $400-$600.
688. Guatemala, cob 8 reales, 1752J.
S-G1a; KM-12; CT-284.
26.79 grams. Nice full pillars and waves and crowned globes, good
but off-center crowned shield, full assayer and mintmark and most of date, lightly toned VF for type, with small hole in point near edge. Estimate: $150-$225.
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