Here are two 2 Reales from Bolivia, obviously both obverse and reverse from different dies. My question is, why is the first one marked as assayed by P and R and the second only by P? I can't find this (only P) in any book. Did R take the day off? Is it rare (not for sale, thanks)?
The correct assayer's marks are P R, P is for Pedro de Mazondo ands R is for Raimundo de Iturriaga. And I believe the R is there on both of them, but on the one coin is worn almost completely off.
Many thanks for your quick reply. In-hand, there isn't enough wear to have worn it off. While a ghost R seems to show up in this picture I don't believe it's real - not where it should be. Watcha think?
If you look at the pics there is plenty of wear for it to have worn off. The rim and denticles are even gone. I think it is quite normal and that ghost R is there because it WAS there. You have to remember, the devices on these coins were all punched into the dies by hand, rarely are two the same. Look at the dates on these two coins, bit of a difference there wouldn't ya say ?
