Featured A Lifelong Numismatic Dream Fulfilled - A Santiago Mint Columnario

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by Eduard, Nov 27, 2019.

  1. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    This is a coin which I had almost given up hope of ever owning. However, it has finally happened and I am really happy to have found this example of a Santiago, Chile Mint 8 Reales Columnario.

    Collectors of Latin American Colonial coinage will recognise Santiago Columnarios as one of the scarcest types in all of Spanish Colonial Numismatics. While the New World Spanish mints at Mexico, Lima and Potosi produced the 'Dos Mundos' coinage in very large numbers, production from Santiago was comparably tiny.

    Today, a total of only 53 Santiago 8 Reales Columnarios are documented to exist with dates ranging from 1751 to 1770, for a total of 12 Different dates. Only a handful more are possibly unaccounted for. For some dates, only one or two examples are known.

    The two most 'common' dates, 1768 and 1758, account for half of all examples known.
    I was therefore excited when the opportunity to add this rare example from 1764 arose. Only Five coins are known for this date.

    This example is in lower grade, but otherwise shows all relevant detail. With these coins you really take what you get unless you are a collector of unlimited financial means.
    It is now the centerpiece of my Santiago Mint Spanish Colonial collection and the accomplishment of a lifelong numismatic dream.

    8 Reales, Santiago, Chile mint.
    Struck during the reign of Carlos III, Assayer J.
    Gilboy SC-8-11, Cayon 11932, KM-18, Elizondo-12, Cr.7, Jara CJ E-1764.




    Columnario 1764 - better photo - 1.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2019
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  3. kSigSteve

    kSigSteve Active Member

    Congrats @Eduard

    Beautiful piece of history. Also a lovely circ cam look.
     
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  4. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Very interesting find and congrats on getting something pretty rare.
     
    Eduard likes this.
  5. Islander80-83

    Islander80-83 Well-Known Member

    Congratulation! That has got to be a great feeling.

    I'm an official lifelong numismatic dreamer! :banghead:
     
    Eduard likes this.
  6. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    Congrats Eduard !
     
    Eduard likes this.
  7. Coinsandmedals

    Coinsandmedals Well-Known Member

    Congratulations! That is a very nice coin!
     
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  8. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Thanks!

    I can honestly say this is 'the' coin which I have desired and 'longed' for the most and longest.

    Back in 2007 the stars aligned so that I was able to purchase an 1768 at auction. However, it eventually turned out to be a fake. Major disappointment !!
    I was made whole by the auction house, but the longing remained...meanwhile prices increased.

    Twelve years on, and I was lucky to find and purchase this 1764, in a grade that I could afford - a far better date for me as a collector, specially because when they do come up, Santiago Columnarios are often either 1758's, or mostly 1768's. Most other dates hardly ever change hands, or only once in a generation.
     
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  9. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    Felicidades! What a great coin. This is not my area of expertise, but I'd recognize that So mint any day of the week. ;) congratulations on another fine numismatic achievement.
     
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  10. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Thanks, Brandon! if you had stayed a few months longer in Europe I would have converted you into a Spanish Colonial lover yet!
     
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  11. Seattlite86

    Seattlite86 Outspoken Member

    There's definitely room in my heart for it, just not my pocketbook. ;) I'll do my best to get back to Europe in a few years and free up some hobby funds. :)
     
    Eduard likes this.
  12. chrisild

    chrisild Coin Collector

    Awww, bummer! Good that you got the money back (hopefully without any problems), and great that you now got a nice and authentic one. :)

    Christian
     
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  13. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Thank you, Christian. Yes, the auction house was very responsive and I came out of it without any loss, just took some time.
    This actually happened coin 2008 - I posted the coin here:

    https://www.cointalk.com/threads/i-...ht-santiago-columnario-8-reales-1768-a.37755/
     
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  14. GeorgeM

    GeorgeM Well-Known Member

    Amazing. I had no idea these were so scarce!
     
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  15. TheFinn

    TheFinn Well-Known Member

    Now you just need the Colombian piece. ;)
     
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  16. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    ...that would be great, but....there are only 35 or so Nuevo Reino 8R Columnarios around. This extremely scarce coin, scarcer still than their Santiago counterparts was only minted in 4 years: 1759, 1760/59, 1762 and 1770.

    Nuevo Reino Columnarios from 1770 were unknown until around 2006 when 14 examples, all dated 1770 and all in mint condition were found during building work for a parking lot at the site of an old church and convent in Bogota.
    In addition, "two examples dated 1762 are known, and two 1760-dated pieces are recorded, with rumors of a third. Specimens dated 1759 are only slightly more numerous than those of 1770".
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2019
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  17. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Coming back to the Santiago Pillar 8 Reales, this is the current best estimation of all examples known, per year:

    Year Number of Examples Documented
    1751 2
    1753 1
    1755 4 (with one more possible)
    1758 9 (with up to 2 or 3 more possible)
    1760 3 (one more possible)
    1762 2
    1764 5
    1765 2 (one more possible)
    1767 4
    1768 17 (a few more possible)
    1769 1
    1770 2

    Several are holed and or badly damaged (about 8 examples).
    A few in very low state of preservation.

    Courtesy: various catalogues and sources
     
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  18. TheFinn

    TheFinn Well-Known Member

    Which is why I mentioned it with a wink.
     
  19. Eduard

    Eduard Supporter**

    Ok, I got that.
    My detailed answer was more for the benefit of other members who may not be aware of how rare the Nuevo Reino pillars are.
     
    Seattlite86 likes this.
  20. serafino

    serafino Well-Known Member

    How did you find out the 1768 was fake ? Was it a recent fake or a contemporary fake from back in that era.
     
  21. moneditis

    moneditis Reales de a 8

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