Last November, I noticed that the latest round of deaccessions from the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, billed as the Eric P. Newman Collection Part XI US Coins Signature Auction, also had a few world coins mixed in. I won this nice upgrade for the 1733 klippe 8 reales that I mentioned in a previous journal entry. But, I was also curious because of the lot description that included:
"A scarce-to-rare example of the Philip V 8 reales pistareen with cut sides, struck on a screw press according to the Eric P. Newman kraft envelope, which accompanies the coin."
I was aware that "pistareen" was a nickname for Spanish 2 reales coins and wondered why Mr. Newman would mention that in his notes about an 8 reales. Alas, I was unable to glean any more information by examining the envelope because it was not included in the shipment from Heritage. I did complain to Heritage and they checked with their shipping department and opened an investigation into the issue. However, after a month they concluded that the envelope was lost. They did offer a refund if I wanted to return the coin but I elected to keep it, but I was able to get a credit for part of the lot cost.
I imagine that it was accidentally shipped with a different lot so if you received an envelope with your package from the Eric P. Newman Collection Part XI US Coins Signature Auction that doesn't seem to belong with your lot, it may be mine. Please contact Heritage if that's the case.
As part of my investigation into the "pistareen" question, I came across a great article from the April 2001 issue of the Colonial Newsletter that discusses how a coin that was never meant to be used outside of Spain, was actually one of the most commonly used coins in Colonial Virginia. This connection may have been how Mr. Newman recognized some of the similar design elements on the 8 reales klippe as the shield on the obverse is the same although the style of the cross on the reverse only bears a slight resemblance. I'll leave it to you to hunt down example photos of a "pistareen" and I'll just show my photos of my new klippe.
~jack
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