Mysia. Kyzikos. Tetradrachm. 380-340 a.C. (Sng France-Unlisted). (Von Fritze-Unlisted). Anv.: Head of Kore Soteira left, wearing single-pendant earring, hair in sphendone covered with a veil, two grain ears in hair; ΣΩ(TEIPA) above. Rev.: Head of lion left, tunny fish to left below, scallop shell to right; KYZIKHNΩN around. . 14,73 g. Toned. Rare. Almost XF. Est...4000,00.
NGC - Ch MS★ 5/5, 5/5
Kings of Pontos. Mithradates VI Eupator. Stater. 88-86 BC. Kallatis. First Mithradatic War issue, in the name and types of Lysimachos. (Callataÿ-p.140 (D4/R2)). (AMNG-I 266). (Hgc-3.2, 1824). Anv.: Diademed head of the deified Alexander to right, with horn of Ammon. Rev.: Athena Nikephoros seated to left, ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right, ΛYΣΙΜΑΧΟY to left; HP monogram to inner left, KAΛ on throne, ornate trident in exergue. . 8,33 g.
Magnificent specimen in a very high grade. Rare in this condition. Slabbed by NGC as Ch MS★, Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5. Est...10000,00.
Clounioq!!
Clounioq. Denarius. 140 - 40 BC. Coruña del Conde (Burgos). (Abh-831). (MIB-126/2). (Acip-1823). Anv.: Male bust to the right, with a double necklace, behind it the Iberian letters II "baba" and "Ko". Rev.: Horseman with a spear to the right, below the Iberian legend: KOLOUNIOKU. . 2,74 g.
Extremely rare. Minor banker’s mark behind the bust. Some areas of weak strike, yet it remains a well-struck coin overall, and we have no doubt that it will attract significant attention from collectors of this period.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a specimen that would be a highlight in any coin collection and one that will seldom be seen at auction again. Almost VF. Est...8000,00.
Galba. Aureus. 68-69 AD. Rome. (Ric-I 222 (R3)). (Calicó-518). Anv.: IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG. Laureate and draped bust to right. Rev.: VIR-TVS. Virtus nude, standing, facing, holding sword and spear. . 6,96 g. Despite its wear, this is an extremely rare specimen, of which we have located only two examples auctioned in the last 20 years. Almost VF/Choice F. Est...7000,00.
Vespasian. Aureus. 77-78 AD. Rome. (Ric-II 935). (Bmcre-204). (Calicó-624a). Anv.: IMP CAESAR VESPASIANVS AVG. Laureated bust right. Rev.: COS VIII. in exergue, Vespasian, in military dress, on left, standing left, holding vertical spear in right hand and parazonium slanted upward to right in left hand; on right, Victory standing left, holding wreath in right hand above Vespasian's head and palm frond in left. . 7,29 g. Traces of luster and nice color. Rare, even more with the bust looking right.
When Nero committed suicide and the Roman Empire plunged into civil war, Vespasian was in the midst of besieging the city of Jerusalem. On July 1st, 69 AD, the Roman legions stationed in Egypt and Judea proclaimed Vespasian emperor. On December 20th of the same year, Vespasian triumphed over his rival Vitellius, and his appointment was confirmed by the Senate the following day.
Vespasian’s reign was marked by a series of financial reforms and ambitious construction projects. His most famous achievement is undoubtedly the Colosseum in Rome, an amphitheater of unprecedented size. Through his legate Agricola, he also continued the conquest of Britain.
Despite his reputation for being austere (even stingy) Vespasian emerged as a patron of the arts, establishing a special allowance for artists: rhetoricians, poets, and sculptors were effectively placed on the state’s payroll.
After his death in 79 AD, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Titus. Vespasian thus became the first Roman emperor to be succeeded by his own biological son, marking the beginning of the Flavian dynasty. Almost XF. Est...9000,00.
NGC - Ch VF
Domitian. Aureus. 82 AD. Rome. (Ric-II 1 137). (Biaggi-437). (Calicó-936). Anv.: IMP CAES DOMITIΛNVS AVG P M. Laureate head right. Rev.: TR POT IMP II COS VIII DES VIIII P P. Cuirassed bust of Minerva left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis; transverse scepter over right shoulder. . 7,87 g. Traces of luster. Rare. Slabbed by NGC as Ch VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, Brushed. Est...8000,00.
Lovely color
Septimius Severus. Aureus. 193-211 AD. Rome. (Ric-IV 22). (Calicó-2546). (Bmcre-28). Anv.: IMP CAE L SEP SEV PERT AVG, laureate head right. Rev.: VICT AVG TR P COS. Victory walking left, holding laurel wreath in right hand and cradling palm front in left arm. . 7,35 g.
Very well centered strike and lovely orange color. Rare. A similar specimen was auctioned by Classical Numismatic Group at the NYINC Triton XVIII, January 2015 Auction with a sale amount of $20,000. XF. Est...15000,00.
NGC - Ch XF 5/5, 1/5
Julian II Apostata. 9 Siliqua – 1½ Scripulum. 361-363 AD. Antioch. (Ric-VIII 207). (Depeyrot-17/1). Anv.: IVLIAN VS AVG, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bearded bust right. Rev.: VICTORIA ROMANORVM, Victory, seated right on cuirass, holding stylus and shield inscribed VOT/XX in two lines; shield supported by small genius; ANT. . 1,63 g.
Possibly struck as a donative on Julian's arrival in Antioch in the Summer of AD 362.
Some scratches. Very rare. Slabbed by NGC as Ch XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 1/5, Straightened. Est...4000,00.
Juan de Gante - Imperatrix Plate
Kingdom of Castille and Leon. Juan de Gante, Duke of Lancaster (1371-1387). 1 real. No mint mark. (Bautista-711). (Imperatrix-JL:1.3, Plate coin). Anv.: + DEVS IVDICIVM TVV(M) REGID / A ET JUSTICIAM. IL coronadas. Rev.: + IVSTICIAM TVAM FILIE REGIS. Cuartelado de castillos y leones con rosetas en sus extremos. . 3,07 g.
Legends separated by rosettes on the obverse and by double saltire crosses on the reverse. Of the highest rarity and numismatic importance.
It may be a striking from a traveling mint, likely in Galicia following its invasion by John of Lancaster himself after his landing in La Coruña.
The obverse legend is inspired by Psalm LXXI “ad Salomonem”: “God grants your judgment to the King and your justice to the daughter of the king,” a clear allusion to John of Gaunt and his wife Constance, daughter of Peter I.
This same specimen is referenced in the specialized online catalog Imperatrix. Choice VF. Est...15000,00.
¡¡1/8 real - Granada!!
Catholic Kings (1474-1504). 1/8 real. Granada. (Cal-153, same dies). Anv.: · FERNANDVS · D · G · REX ·. F coronada entre G y roel. Rev.: hELISABET · D · G : REG ·. Y coronada. . 0,40 g.
Second known example. Light patina and a small bend at one of the edges. Extremely rare, of the highest numismatic interest and historical importance.
It would be a delight for any collector and an excellent opportunity to acquire a wonderful specimen that would be a highlight in any coin collection and we are sure we will not see it offered at auction for many years again. The other specimen (made with the same dies) was auctioned on December 12, 2018, by Áureo & Calicó as part of the Isabel de Trastámara collection, with a hammer price of €65,000.
This exceptional ⅛ real fraction, minted in the Granada mint under Christian rule, stands as a unique numismatic testimony to the political, economic, and cultural unification process undertaken by the Catholic Monarchs after the conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom in 1492. It belongs to the period of monetary reorganization led by the monarchy, aimed at strengthening royal authority through a uniform monetary system centered around the silver real.
Although the Pragmatic of Medina del Campo (1497) is the most well-known legal reference for this reform, its foundations can be traced back to the Pragmática of 1417 (under Juan II), which established the real as the basic monetary unit. From 1475 onward, the Catholic Monarchs revived this model and promoted the issuance of smaller denominations, such as this ⅛ real, to support local trade and circulation in newly incorporated territories.
What makes this coin particularly fascinating is its square shape—atypical within the traditional Castilian monetary system. This form may have been a deliberate strategy to emulate the old ¼ dirhams, which circulated widely in the Kingdom of Granada before its conquest. Thus, this small coin served as a cultural bridge, designed to facilitate its acceptance among the Mudéjar population, blending familiar aesthetics with the Christian symbols of the new rulers: Ferdinand’s yoke, Isabella’s arrows, and possibly the heraldic pomegranate or the “G” mintmark.
As such, this coin carries immense historical and symbolic value, embodying the intersection of civilizations during a pivotal moment in Iberian history. Its rarity, integrative purpose, and possible political significance make it a highly prized piece for collectors of medieval coinage and those interested in the Catholic Monarchs . Almost XF. Est...35000,00.
8 reales Rincon!! - AU details
Philip II (1556-1598). 8 reales. ND (1568-1570). Lima. R (Alonso Rincon). (Cal-651). (Calbetó-243 var). (Cy-3911). Anv.: PHILIPVS : II : D : HISPA. Rev.: NIARVM · ET · INDIARVM · REX. . 25,51 g.
Assayer R to the left of the shield; on the reverse, above the waves, the denomination 8 in Arabic numeral, and in the center, the inscription PL/VSV/LT. Legends are complete, though somewhat weak in certain areas. An extraordinary obverse, considered among the finest known. Slight double striking and hairlines on the reverse. Fine transversal crack, more pronounced on the reverse, with some excess of metal. Extremely rare. Slabbed by NGC as AU Details, Obv. Tooled.
These coins are regarded as the first South American “dollars.” They were minted without explicit authorization and exhibit notable technical deficiencies — such as weight below the legal standard, irregularities in the die work (including double striking and cracks), the use of dies with spelling errors, and rudimentary engraving — which led to the rapid suspension of their production. They belong to the earliest 8 reales issues in the Americas, produced by assayers surnamed Rincón at the mints of Mexico (1538), Lima (1568–69), and Potosí (1575). Only three specimens are known from Mexico; those from Potosí number only a few dozen, while Lima pieces, such as this example, have fewer than ten registered specimens, making them iconic in colonial numismatics.
The Lima Mint was authorized by Philip II by Royal Order on August 21, 1565, although actual operations did not commence until September 1568. Under the direction of assayer Alonso Rincón — son of the renowned Rincón of Mexico — the mint was established in the local government building, which also served as a jail. On September 2, 1568, the die bearing the initial "R" was delivered, and the first silver deposits date from the 6th. In just over a year, more than 20,000 marks of silver were recorded, originating both from the Royal Treasury and a small group of local merchants known as "silver banks."
The mint’s activity was intense but brief and troubled. By late 1569, following an official inspection, various irregularities were detected, including the alleged misappropriation of seigniorage — the fiscal profit from minting — as well as the production of 8 reales coins not stipulated in the original regulations. Treasurer Lope de Mendaña was accused and convicted but later acquitted with a symbolic fine. Viceroy Francisco de Toledo later confirmed that, although not included in the initial ordinances, the mint was indeed authorized to produce duros (8 reales coins). After the scandal, operations ceased on October 11, 1569, and partially transferred to La Plata.
According to several specialists, including Paoletti, the striking of these exceedingly rare duros from Lima dates between 1568 and 1570. This specimen most likely corresponds to the brief and turbulent initial period, between September 1568 and October 1569. It is a piece of immense rarity, with fewer than ten specimens held in public and private collections, although no exact census has been published. Est...35000,00.
Rare date - VF 35
Philip II (1556-1598). 2 escudos. 1594. Sevilla. B. (Cal-850). (Tauler-49). . 6,75 g. Mint, denomination, and assayer to the left of the shield; date vertically positioned to the right, with the last digit clearly visible. This is an extremely rare piece: it is the third known example of this date that we have been able to document at auction and the second of this denomination. Slabbed by NGC as VF 35, although the date does not appear on the holder.
For reasons still unknown, the production of precious metals at the Seville mint in 1594 was abnormally low. In silver, only 3,799 kg were struck that year—a figure significantly below the output of the immediately preceding and following years: 113,339 kg in 1591, 96,410 kg in 1592, 101,223 kg in 1593, 193,450 kg in 1595, and 98,176 kg in 1596.
Gold coinage also experienced a sharp drop in 1594: merely 754 kg were minted, compared to 4,083 kg in 1591, 2,645 kg in 1592, 2,940 kg in 1593, 8,132 kg in 1595, and 2,476 kg in 1596.
Gold coins from Seville dated 1594 are exceedingly rare. Tauler only lists a single 2 escudos piece sold by Heritage Auctions in June 2007 (Tauler 049) and a 4 escudos example auctioned by Áureo & Calicó in their 2017 Selección sale. Est...2500,00.
"Ingenio de la Tijera" - MS 63
Philip II (1556-1598). 4 escudos. 1591. Madrid. C. (Cal-882). (Tauler-4). (Fried-159). . 13,57 g. Type "Ingenio de la Tijera". Only 3 known specimens. Very fine style mintage with a lovely color and luster. Of the highest rarity and great interesting for the Spanish numismatic history. Superb specimen. Slabbed by NGC as MS 63. Only 2 other specimens are known; one of them auctioned by Daniel F. Sedwick 33 (03/05/2023), lot 27; and the other by Tauler&Fau 128 (07/06/2023), lot 145.
It would be a delight for any collector and the last opportunity to acquire a wonderful specimen that would be a highlight in any coin collection and we are sure we will not see it offered at auction for many years again.
One of Philip II's many reforms in the 1500s was to move the Spanish Court from its traditional royal seat in Toledo to the city of Madrid, where it remains today. That included creating a new mint in Madrid where none had existed before. Naturally, Philip was eager to start minting coins there, but only if they could be made of superior quality. Perfect, machine-struck coinage was already being struck at the Segovia mint starting in 1586 using what was known as “Real Ingenio" (“royal machine”). In Madrid, however, the king opted for a different minting experiment known as "Ingenio de la Tijera" (“shearing machine”), which had been developed by the royal blacksmith and knifemaker Miguel de la Cerda, on recommendation by the Third Count of Chinchón, Diego Fernández de Cabrera y Bobadilla.
Miguel de la Cerda’s invention consisted of a special method of pouring silver or gold into perfectly round solid cylinders matching the diameter of the coin dies, with each planchet hand-cut from one end with special scissors, so that no further trimming or flattening was needed. This was meant to save time and resources, while producing attractive coins with full and even details, a far cry from what was eventually produced in earnest at the Madrid Mint starting in 1614. The experiment was first tried at the Segovia and Toledo Mints in 1589-91, but since Madrid was the preferred destination, silver and gold were brought from Toledo to Madrid to carry out the experiment there as well in 1591. Since there was no mint, the workshop of the famous but recently deceased sculptor, engraver and medallist for the king, Jacome Trezzo (also known as “Jacometrezo”) was chosen for the striking in Madrid. Ultimately, however, it was not possible to continue to strike the larger-denomination coins due to lower river current to run the water mills. The highest denomination—and rarest—was the 4 escudos, as it seems no 8 escudos were even attempted, although the silver 8 reales (Cal-660) is known, the only extant example of which hammered in March 2021 by Aureo & Calicó for about $21,500.
For the next few years, de la Cerda was secretive about his invention, and little or nothing is recorded until a second experiment at the Seville Mint in 1597. The next year, 1598, de la Cerda died and passed the rights for his invention to his trustee, Dr. Baltasar Vellorino, who asserted that he was the one who had improved de la Cerda’s design to make 4’s and 8’s possible. Vellorino quickly pushed for a new agreement with King Philip II to implement the invention in his own name and receive 50 percent of the profits for twelve years; but the caveat was that invention would be used only at New World mints, starting with Mexico City. One month later, the King died and the crown passed to his son, Philip III.
The equipment was not shipped to Mexico until 1602, well into the reign of Philip III. Vellorino himself left for Mexico in 1603 and the machinery was all in place by the end of 1606, according to an early 1607 document. Back in Spain, a similar experiment by Segovia’s famous tallador Diego de Astor took place in 1610 at the Segovia Mint and in 1611 in Madrid (again at the studios of Jacome Trezzo). The experiment lost favor, however, and it was claimed in court that the new method was slower than promised and would effectively cause raw silver and gold to bypass Spain and go straight to Asia (Philippines, China and Japan) without benefit to mainland Spain. Researcher Jorge Proctor points out that these dates line up more or less with the first appearance of Mexican Royals (galanos), which were perfectly round and match what the new equipment would have produced. Apart from these galanos, there is no evidence this invention was ever fully implemented in the New World.
The “Ingenio de la Tijera” coins from Spain are therefore very important to the evolution of the long numismatic history of Spain and its American colonies.
For reference, two Spanish journal articles summarize and discuss the documentation:
“Dos experimentos acuñadores en Madrid: las pruebas de Miguel de la Cerda y Diego de Astor en las casas de Jacome Trezzo,” by Rosa Romero Molina, in issue 233 (July-December 1993) of NVMISMA (Sociedad Iberoamericana de Estudios Numismáticos)
“El Proyecto de implantación del Ingenio de la Tijera en las cecas de los Reinos de las Indias,” by Pedro Damián Cano Borrego, in issue 9 (2022) of Revista Numismática Hécate. Est...100000,00.
Ex 1715 Plate Fleet
Philip V (1700-1746). 8 escudos. 1712. Lima. M. (Cal-2120). (Cal onza-240). (Tauler-240b, Plate coin). . 26,71 g.
Variety with date on the reverse legend as “ANO 71”. Very well centered struck with full legends. Lovely color.
This same specimen is referenced by Rafael Tauler Fesser in his excellent catalog Oro Macuquino. Very rare, more in this state of preservation. Ex 1715 Plate Fleet Shipwrecks.
It was slabbed by PCGS as MS 61. Ex Stack's&Bowers and Ponterio, June Baltimore Auction (17/06/2011), lot 7063. This coin is exempt from any export license fee. XF. Est...25000,00.
100 reales de vellon. 1873. Banco de Bilbao. (Ed). Dated May 8. Series F. Signed and numbered. Three central punch holes and the figure "2010" applied with a numbering device in the inner left corner. Over more than thirty years, only about half a dozen examples of this banknote with date and signatures have been documented in circulation, underscoring its extreme rarity. This limited number does not allow definitive conclusions, except to confirm its rarity. It is noteworthy that none of the dated and signed specimens exceed the number 40,077, and all numbers below 40,000 bear a cancellation punch and the figure "2010" below the signature of the "Jefe de Intervención." This specimen, with a very low number (25,659), confirms these observations. Est...500,00.
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