We are honored to present the second part of the remarkable collection of Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó, focusing on rare 4 reales and 8 reales cobs from Lima and Potosí. Luis Roberto’s passion for South American cobs was unmatched, and his collection reflects years of dedication to acquiring some of the finest and rarest examples. It’s a privilege for us to now offer these exceptional pieces to collectors around the world.
In this publication, we also share a tribute from his brother, Alejandro, which beautifully captures Luis Roberto’s love for numismatics and the legacy he leaves behind.
Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó
Luis Roberto Ponte Puigbó 17/04/1962 – 14/03/2023
“Born in Caracas, Venezuela, descended from an ancient lineage linked to the culture, history, and science of his country, he was a passionate numismatist and historian, a respected lawyer, graduating with Honors from the prestigious Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in 1986. He pursued his profession successfully and brilliantly, being one of the best lawyers in Venezuela, legally representing major companies of the country, demonstrating his dedication and commitment to excellence. His legal background, combined with his passion for history, provided him with a unique and valuable perspective that he applied both in his professional life and in his personal interests. “Numismatics fascinated him so much that he became an eminent researcher and one of the most outstanding collectors in the world, with vast knowledge of macuquinas (cobs), Hispano-American mints such as Lima, Potosí, and expertise in Venezuelan coins. He presented countless conferences, publications in national and international forums, contributing significant discoveries to this world. He served as Secretary and Legal Advisor of the Venezuelan Numismatic Society. He was a Corresponding Member, Secretary, and Legal Advisor of the Venezuelan Numismatic Society (Sonuve); Lifetime Member of the American Numismatic Society (ANS); Corresponding Member and District Representative for Venezuela of the American Numismatic Association (ANA); Member of the Spanish Numismatic Association (ANE); Member of the Numismatic Association of Chile (ANUCH), Member of Colombian Numismatists (Numiscol); Member of the Philatelic and Numismatic Circle of Barcelona (CNFB); Corresponding Member of the Federal Institute of Numismatic Researchers of the Argentine Republic (IFINRA); Number Member of the Dominican Numismatic Society (SND); among others. “Luis Roberto dedicated the last years of his life to meticulous research in the historical archives of the Indies in Seville, Spain, leaving several of his findings in progress, which will be published in the near future. He was not just a coin collector; he was an investigator and explorer of the past. Each coin in his collection told a story, which was a small piece of the puzzle of our civilization. As a historian, his insatiable curiosity and meticulous attention to detail allowed him to delve into the mysteries of the past in a way that few could. Luis was always an exemplary, virtuous, cultured, brilliant, dedicated, and enthusiastic human being, whose generosity, simplicity, and humility transcended in all those who had the opportunity to know him. Despite the sadness we feel, he will be remembered for his love of life, his dedication, and passion for history and numismatics. His loss is irreparable, but his legacy will endure for decades in his research, his coins, and in our memories.”
This auction is one of our biggest to date, with many important rarities in coins, currency, and artifacts! In our Gold Cobs section you will find such trophies as a Seville, Spain, 1681/0/79 S gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 61 (Lot 23) and the finest known Seville, Spain, 1659 (R) gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Lot 17). Also note a lovely Lima, Peru, 1748 R gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Lot 37). Shipwreck Ingots hosts one of the finest selections of shipwreck gold bars that we’ve had so far, with several unique gold ingots from the “Golden Fleece” wreck, the Atocha, the 1715 Fleet, the Luz, and the “Nanking Cargo” (Lots 73-77). Four large silver bars from the Atocha in this sale make a veritable grade set with Class Factors 0.7 up to the perfect 1.0 available for bidding (Lots 82-85). A new feature in Shipwreck Coins is that gold cobs are now included with their respective wrecks. The Silver Banks Collection hosts over 60 silver cobs recovered from the Concepción by Captain Tracy Bowden (Lots 132-195). There’s an incredible selection of Capitana and Maravillas cobs from the Luis R. Ponte Collection including numerous countermarked pre-1652 shield-type 8 reales along with transitional and post-transitional types. The popular 1715 Fleet features a strong assortment of high-grade gold cobs including a fantastic Mexico City, Mexico, 1715 J cob 8 escudos graded NGC AU 58 (Lot 296) and the spectacularly rare Cuzco, Peru, 1698 M cob 1 escudo graded NGC AU 58 (Lot 311). A selection of U.S. shipwreck coins from the S.S. New York, S.S. Central America, and the S.S. Republic are up for sale including a rare San Francisco Assay Office gold $10 graded PCGS XF45 recovered from the S.S. Central America (Lot 424). Mexico Silver Cobs has a small but nice group of rare “Early” and “Late” Series Charles-Joanna reales (Lots 448-451). Within Lima Silver Cobs, there are several Philip II rarities including a 4 reales of Assayer Rincón plated in Grunthal-Sellschopp’s The Coinage of Peru (Lot 457) along with many more choice pieces pedigreed to the Luis R. Ponte Collection. Our robust Potosí Silver Cobs section features more key coins from the Luis R. Ponte Collection including a Philip II cob 8 reales of assayer L (1st period) with denomination o-VIII over P-M to right, a rarity also plated in Grunthal-Sellschopp (Lot 518). A number of very rare Royals from the Potosí Mint are being offered: Watch for the finest known 1704/3 Y cob 8 reales Royal graded NGC AU 55 (Lot 654) and the extremely rare 1709 Y cob 8 reales Heart ex-von Schuckmann (Lot 655) in this section. Several very important collections are featured in World Coins including the Jorge Becerra Collection of Colombian Colonial Coins, the JEAS Collection of Gold Coins of Independent Colombia, Part I of the Emilio M. Ortiz Collection of Gold Coins, and Part I of the John M. O’Brien Reference Collection of Peruvian Coins. Collectors of classic Chinese coin rarities should watch for Lots 870 through 911 for numerous vintage Chinese coins from the imperial and republican eras with particular highlights being the eye-appealing Tsao-Kun military attire silver dollar of 1923 graded PCGS MS 64 (Lot 906) and the ever-popular Kweichow Year 17 (1928) “Auto” dollar graded PCGS VF 30 (Lot 909). A key coin in this session is the rare Jamaica GR countermarked of 1758 on a Lima, Peru, gold bust 8 escudos of 1751 J graded NGC c/s AU strong pedigreed to the Farouk and Rudman collections (Lot 1282). Spanish gold milled 8 escudos are well represented with several finest known and “top pop” pieces up for bidding including the gorgeous and finest known Seville, Spain, 1714 M gold 8 escudos graded NGC MS 65 (Lot 1429). Chile is another very strong area in this sale with many Spanish colonial and Republic gold and silver types available for the expert collector including the very rare Coquimbo 1828 TH “volcano” peso graded NGC AU 50 (Lot 830). The curated Medals and Decorations section hosts several tough Bolivian medals and orders including a gold Ingaví millitary decoration of 1841 (Lot 1458). We also present another selection of Admiral Vernon medals from the prestigious John Adams Collection (Lots 1465-1486). Within U.S. Coins, Medals, and Tokens there are several important early American rarities, notably an amazing 1787 Fugio cent graded NGC MS 66 Brown—a lofty “top pop” grade for this historical type (Lot 1500). Other highlights include a 1883-S gold $20 double eagle graded PCGS AU53 from the Saddle Ridge Hoard (Lot 1490) as well as an 1894 gold proof $2½ quarter eagle graded NGC PF 58 (Lot 1491). The U.S. Paper Money section has several tough Obsoletes including two Civil War-era State of Florida notes (Lots 1506 and 1507). World Paper Money hosts many beautiful, high-grade, Latin American specimens and proofs including the finest known Costa Rica Banco Mercantil specimen 20 colones graded PMG Superb Gem UNC 67 EPQ (Lot 1523) and a very rare PMG-graded set of five Dominican Republic progressive proofs from 1978-1982 (Lot 1536). The fifth session of our sale starts with Ancient and Medieval coins with many popular Ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine designs, including a beautifully toned Imperial Roman silver “elephant” denarius of Julius Caesar (Lot 1561) and a lustrous NGC-graded Mint State Byzantine Empire gold solidus of Justinian II (Lot 1565). Following that, the popular Coin Jewelry section hosts many gold and silver shipwreck, Spanish colonial, and ancient coins mounted into settings and ready for wearing. This auction has a very strong Shipwreck Artifacts section featuring many pieces from the Concepción salvage work done by Captain Tracy Bowden as well as pieces he recovered from Bannister’s pirate ship Golden Fleece sunk off the Dominican Republic in 1686—an historic first offering of a new pirate shipwreck!—in addition to items from the Guadalupe and Tolosa of 1724. The Non-Wreck Artifacts section holds an array of fossils (Lots 1640-1650) as well as historical items like a sword presented in 1856 to Heinrich Halfeld for engineering work in Minas Gerais, Brazil (Lot 1654). We close out the sale with the online-only Express session featuring over 400 lots from all categories. We wish you all good luck and hope you find the next great treasures for your collection in this sale!
For more details about the auction email us or call us.
Event Summary Start Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 (Lot viewing and educations talks)
Educational Talks: 2:00 – 2:45 PM: Jorge Becerra Leon (Bogotá,) – “Colonial Colombian Coins” 3:00 – 3:45 PM: Jorge Ugaz (Lima,) – “The Cob Coinage of El Peru” (Spanish) 4:00 – 4:45 PM: Ignacio Gutierrez (Madrid) – “Los Doblones de a Ocho” 5:00 – 5:45 PM: Emilio M. Ortiz (Puerto Rico,) – “Gold Coinage of The Caribbean” 6:00 – 6:20 PM: Charlie Winn – (Representing The 1715 Fleet Society) 6:45 – 8:00 PM: Invitation-only cocktail reception at SpringHill Suites.
Thursday, November 7, 2024 9:00 AM: Floor auction with live internet bidding begins Gold Cobs | Shipwreck Ingots | Shipwreck Coins | Silver Cobs by mint
Friday, November 8, 2024 9:00 AM: Floor auction with live internet bidding continues: World Coins (by country) | Medals and Decorations | U.S. Coins | Paper Money Ancient Coins | Coin Jewelry | Artifacts
9:00 PM: Express Session (selected items from all categories)
Saturday, November 9, 2024 9:00 – 11:30 AM: Lot pick-up
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