Important British and World Coins

Guatemala, 1663 issue, a Spanish-American 2 Reales, rev. countermarked with large crown, 6.02g (KM. B1.1); a false Spanish-American cob 8 Reales, rev. countermarked with a small crown, 25.25g [2]. First coin worn almost flat and pierced, countermark fine, second coin and countermark fine and toned (£80-100)

Provenance:
First bt Blanco & Negro, San Juan 1981
Second R. Byrne Collection, Jess Peters Auction 78 (Los Angeles), 13-15 June 1975, lot 1244.

The authorities in Guatemala used the crown countermark in 1663 to validate Potosí and Lima 2 reales of relatively good quality. These coins remained in circulation until 1678 when most were sent to Mexico to be melted down. Those that survived were probably in use as pendants