Lot 933
Bolivia. "Royal" 8 Reales, 1630-P-T (Potosi). WR-4; KM-R19a. 26.99 grams. Philip IV, 1621-1665. Crowned Hapsburg shield. Reverse: Quartered arms of Castille and Leon in tressure. Some trivial peripheral porosity, otherwise good strike on very fine metal. Flan nicely round, with handsome toning. NGC graded AU-55.
The reign of Philip IV saw the continuing decline of Spanish industry and commerce, which had begun in 1588 with the loss of Spanish naval supremacy in the defeat of the Spanish Armada by England. The country was impoverished by wars with France, Germany, and Holland. Portugal regained its independence in 1640; Holland, which had been part of the Spanish Low Countries, was lost by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648; Catalonia revolted and declared its allegiance to Louis XIII of France; and Roussillon was lost permanently. On the bright side, Philip was a patron of the arts, especially of Velasquez, one of Spain's greatest painters. Velasquez immortalized Philip, his queen, his children, and nobles of the court, as well some unusual subjects: court jesters, dwarfs, idiots, and beggars.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $29,900 |
