4 Coin Collecting Scandals That Shocked the Numismatic World
By the middle of the 16th century, Spanish hopes of locating “El Dorado” were fading. As an alternative, the colonizers chose Cerro Rico.
This trajectory collapsed quickly. In the early 17th century, traders questioned Potosi coinage's purity and weight. Spain had to act after foreign governments began accepting Potosi silver Reales at face value.
After several prototypes, a new coin design with the date and assayer's name in at least three places was chosen in 1652. This bold new design allowed even crude and faulty coins to be traced.
Pat Johnson's extensive Latin American collection, including a virtually complete date run of Cobs from Potosi and Lima, will be auctioned online in November 2022.
Visit StacksBowers.com to see our upcoming auction schedule and other items we will be selling in the future. You can also sign up to join in this sale and others that are coming up.
We are accepting proposals for our January 2023 Official Auction of the NYINC and Spring 2023 Hong Kong auctions of coins, medals, and paper money.