SPANISH COLONIAL CUARTILLOS

 

The Stack's Bowers Galleries January 2024 NYINC Auction will be offering a specialized catalog featuring Emilio M. Ortiz's landmark collection of Spanish colonial Cuartillos. Many incredibly elusive cob issues and conditional rarities will headline the sale, so specialists in the series should be sure not to miss this opportunity.

Valued at just 1/4 Real but typically still struck in fine silver, the Cuartillo circulated extensively across all rungs of the social hierarchy of Spanish America. Owing to the coin's diminutive size, mint workers could not simply miniaturize the 8 Real designs as they had done for the other minor denominations. Consequently, some of the most interesting, creative, and enigmatic designs of the Spanish colonial series are found exclusively on the humble Cuartillo. The wars of independence that erupted in the early 19th century give us some of the most individual and elusive issuances of the Cuartillo, pieces that foreshadow the rich numismatic output of the early post-colonial republics.

Some highlights of the collection include multiple early Cuartillos struck under the famed assayer Alonso Rincon in the Lima and Potosi mints. The distinctive cob Cuartillos of Bogota are well-represented, as are the elegant milled issues of Santiago. Elite examples of the challenging War of Independence issues from Venezuela and Mexico are certain to excite collectors. An enigmatic 1822 Cuartillo from Guatemala will also be making a rare auction appearance.

The entire January 2024 auction of the Emilio M. Ortiz Collection is available for viewing and presale bidding at StacksBowers.com. For information about receiving a printed catalog call 800-458-4646 or email Info@StacksBowers.com. The collection will be auctioned live in New York City on January 12, 2024, as part of our official New York International Numismatic Convention Auction.

 

COLOMBIA. 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1771-72). Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino (Bogota) Mint. Charles III. NGC MS-62.

EMO-143.3 (Plate coin); KM-A30; Cal-159 (for Charles IV); Restrepo-2.1 (for Ferdinand VI). Variety with lion's tail curled outward. A beautiful example resounding with much luster. The wide castle and rampant lion offer crisp definition with a frosty finish. Flashes of electric blue further amplify the coin's eye appeal.

To read the complete lot description, see:
COLOMBIA. 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1771-72). Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino (Bogota) Mint. Charles III. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-17BERW/colombia-14-real-nd-ca-1771-72-santa-fe-de-nuevo-reino-bogota-mint-charles-iii-ngc-ms-62)

 

VENEZUELA. Caracas. 1/4 Real, 1805. Caracas Mint. Charles IV. NGC EF-45.

EMO-253.1 (Plate coin); KM-C2; Cal-6 var. (regular denomination); Stohr-2. Already an EXTREMELY RARE type, the present example is the only one found in CoinArchives with the "4" in the denomination shown correctly and not in retrograde. This issue is almost never found in such a wholesome state, unmarred by corrosion. As such, all of its details including the date, city name, central devices, and denomination appear boldly on the handsome brown surfaces. An exceptional coin worthy of strong bids by Venezuelan specialists.

To read the complete lot description, see:
VENEZUELA. Caracas. 1/4 Real, 1805. Caracas Mint. Charles IV. NGC EF-45. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-17BF6S/venezuela-caracas-14-real-1805-caracas-mint-charles-iv-ngc-ef-45)

 

VENEZUELA. Puerto Cabello - Caracas. 1/4 Real, ND (1823). NGC VF-30; Countermark: EF Standard.

EMO-262 (Plate coin); cf. KM-C-2 (for undertype); cf. Cal-63 (same); Stohr-RI.24. Issued by decree of 4 June 1823, repealed by decree of 14 March 1826. Countermark: Nonsensical raised "Chinese" inscription within indent, applied to the obverse of an 1814 Caracas Royalist 1/4 Real. A delightful example bearing a clear view of all pertinent detail on the host coin as well as the counterstamp. Toned to a deep even black with a glossy finish, it makes a lovely representative for this host date.

To read the complete lot description, see:
VENEZUELA. Puerto Cabello - Caracas. 1/4 Real, ND (1823). NGC VF-30; Countermark: EF Standard. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-17BFPA/venezuela-puerto-cabello-caracas-14-real-nd-1823-ngc-vf-30-countermark-ef-standard)

 

COLOMBIA. Cartagena. Cob "1/4 Real", ND (ca. 1813-15). Salazar de las Palmas Mint. Ferdinand VII. NGC AU-58.

EMO-308.1 (Plate coin); cf. KM-B8 (for prototype); cf. Cal-325 (same). Weight: 0.62 gms. An EXTREMELY RARE royalist issue imitating the 1/2 Reales of Philip V. Clipped down to a weight somewhere between a Cuartillo and a Mitad (or 1/8 Real), its tiny planchet displays just the king's monogram on one side and the center of the cross on the other. The coin remains in a highly impressive state of preservation despite its crude nature. The surfaces are free of any corrosion or damage, instead displaying their distinctly imitative design quite boldly along with lovely cabinet gray tone.

To read the complete lot description, see:
COLOMBIA. Cartagena. Cob "1/4 Real", ND (ca. 1813-15). Salazar de las Palmas Mint. Ferdinand VII. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-17BFRL/colombia-cartagena-cob-14-real-nd-ca-1813-15-salazar-de-las-palmas-mint-ferdinand-vii-ngc-au-58)

To read the complete article, see:
A LANDMARK OFFERING OF SPANISH COLONIAL CUARTILLOS FROM THE EMILIO M. ORTIZ COLLECTION (https://stacksbowers.com/a-landmark-offering-of-spanish-colonial-cuartillos-from-the-emilio-m-ortiz-collection/)

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