^Lot 927 COLOMBIA, Cartagena, low-silver (plata baja) ¼ real, Philip IV, date not visible (struck in 1626),

COLOMBIA, Cartagena, low-silver (plata baja) ¼ real, Philip IV, date not visible (struck in 1626), assayer A to right, mintmark NR/S to left, quadrants of cross transposed, unique, NGC VF details / environmental damage, finest and only example in NGC census. Restrepo-M11.1 for type; S-B1; KM-1; Cal-unl (Type 152). 2.04 grams. Obverse with full crown and shield showing bold mintmark NR punched over S for Nuevo Reino (Santa Fe) to left and assayer A to right, reverse with weak but complete pomegranate between pillars, flanked by P to left and V to right for PLVS VLTRA, with spotty toning and somewhat porous surfaces. XRF analysis is inconclusive due to loss of surface alloy (environmental damage), but the original composition appears to be closer to the 25% silver / 75% copper known as plata baja (low silver) of 1626 versus the vellon rico (enriched billon) of 1622 at about 18% silver / 82% copper, supported by the appearance of an NR mintmark to left punched over the previous mintmark S from 1622 (struck from the same dies), not to be confused with the similar RN-mintmark ½ real (twice the weight) bearing a 1622 date (two known) but probably also made in 1626. Documents show these coins were made by a special machine invented by Turrillo himself, as opposed to hand-hammering for cobs. The only known specimen of this variety, a unique and important discovery piece.
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