^Lot 762 Mendoza, Argentina, "imitation cob" 2 reales, "818" date (ca. 1823 clandestine coinage), extremely r

Mendoza, Argentina, "imitation cob" 2 reales, "818" date (ca. 1823 clandestine coinage), extremely rare, NGC AU 55, finest and only example in NGC census, ex-Stohr. Janson-10.1; KM-unl. 4.55 grams. Nicely toned and choice condition (many grades higher than the Janson-plated example), with 100% full pillars-and-waves and cross-lions-castles, XRF-tested at 94% fine silver. After about a century of misattribution to Venezuela based on Medina, these "818" coins are now tentatively attributed to clandestine issuance in Mendoza by virtue of a single example known with Mendoza "Fidelidad" countermark from a decree of December 2, 1823 (see Janson-10.2 on page 472 of his latest edition from 2020). Pedigreed to the Tomas Stohr collection. Please use this link to verify the certification number