The Ortiz Collection of Spanish Colonial Coins Brings Remarkable Results at Stack’s

The January 2024 New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC) Auction was a great success for Stack’s Bowers Galleries with prices realized totaling nearly $13 million. Remarkable results were achieved across a wide range of specialties, including the session offering Spanish Colonial Cuartillos from the Emilio M. Ortiz Collection. Featuring a vast array of ¼ Real issues spanning the entire period of Spanish colonial power, the sale included many rarities and unique offerings. Fierce bidding from numerous specialist collectors resulted in impressive prices at the live auction in New York City.

Lot 51401: Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo – Venezuela. 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1813-20). Ferdinand VII. NGC AU-55. Result: $15,600.

The standout was a stunning, extremely rare overstruck issue from Santo Domingo that featured clear details from both the undertype and overstrike and realized $15,600. The catalog’s many Venezuelan rarities also generated great enthusiasm, exemplified by pieces such as the copper Guayana ¼ Real graded NGC AU-55, which far overperformed expectations landing at $7,800, and the 1805 Caracas ¼ Real graded NGC EF-45 that sold for $6,600.

Lot 51344: Guatemala. Guatemala – Bolivia. 1/4 Real struck over Cob 2 Reales, ND (ca. 1789-95). Nueva Guatemala Mint. Charles IV. NGC VG Details-Holed; Countermark: VF Standard. Result: $10,800.

Possibly the most unusual and unique piece in the sale, the Potosi Cob 2 Reales overstruck with milled Cuartillo dies, attracted competitive bids and brought $10,800. The extremely rare 1822 Guatemalan ¼ Real made its auction debut selling for $7,800, the highest price recorded for any Cuartillo from that mint. The collection’s Filipino coins achieved noteworthy results, with items such as the 1830-F Quarto in NGC EF-45 realizing $5,520 and the interesting backward-dated “2281” Quarto in NGC VF-35 reaching $5,280.

Lot 51091: Colombia. Cartagena. 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1815). Ferdinand VII. NGC MS-64. Result: $8,400.

Colombian Cuartillos were led by a stunning Cartagena issue in NGC MS-64 that sold for $8,400 while a charming Cob from Bogota graded NGC VF-35 reached $4,080, reflecting its great rarity. The milled issues performed well, with a seldom-seen Popayan Cuartillo in NGC AU-58 smashing past its estimate to sell for $5,760 and an anepigraphic issue from Bogota in NGC MS-62 bringing $5,040.

Lot 51118: Peru. Cob 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1568-70)-R. Lima Mint. Philip II. NGC AU Details–Environmental Damage. Result $6,000.

Additional highlights from the Stack’s Bowers Galleries 2024 NYINC sale of the Emilio M. Ortiz Collection:

• Cob 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1568-70)-R. Lima Mint. Philip II. NGC AU Details-Environmental Damage. – $6,000.
• Cob 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1577-88)-P Do. Lima Mint. Philip II. NGC EF-45. – $3,840.
• 1/4 Real, 1794-LIMAE IJ. Lima Mint. Charles IV. NGC MS-62. – $6,000.
• 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1789-95). Potosi Mint. Charles IV. NGC MS-65. – $3,840.
• 1/4 Tlaco (1/8 Real), 1814-Mo. Mexico City Mint. Ferdinand VII. NGC MS-63 Brown. – $3,360.
• Quarto, 1823-F. Manila Mint. Ferdinand VII. NGC F-15. – $4,560.
• 1/4 Real, 1792-So. Santiago Mint. Charles IV. NGC AU-53. – $3,120.

This landmark sale demonstrates Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ commitment to the meticulous cataloging and attention to detail demanded by such a highly specialized collection, as well as their place as a global leader for Latin American numismatic rarities. The firm now looks forward to presenting the second part of the Emilio Ortiz Collection, focused on Latin American Cuartillos from the Republic era, at their August 2024 Global Showcase Auction.