Two silver discs with a profile of a man and a shield and crown design.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

The disc on the left shows a man in profile. He has a bulbous nose, rolls of fat under his chin, and long elaborately curling hair. There is an indent in his neck which seems to show another figure in profile. He is bordered by the words (read clockwise) “DEL GRATIA 1782 CAROLUS IV”. The disc on the right shows a stylized shield with four quadrants populated with standing lions and castles. There is a large crown over the shield, and columns on either side. It is bordered by the words (read clockwise) “HISPAN ET IND REX P 8R P R”.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2014.130
People
Unidentified Artist
Title
Eight Reales with George III Countermark
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
1789
Culture
British
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/351364

Location

Location
Level 2, Room 2340, European and American Art, 17th–19th century, The Silver Cabinet: Art and Ritual, 1600–1850
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
silver
Dimensions
26.9 g
5 cm (1 15/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: obverse; surrounding a portrait of Charles IV crowned in laurel; countermarked with portrait of George III: CAROLUS IV / DEI / GRATIA / 1789
  • inscription: reverse; inscription surrounding the Spanish coat of arms: HISPAN / ET / IND / REX / [PTS monogram] / 8R / P / R [Hispaniarum et Indiarum Rex Potosí 8 Reales Pedro Narciso de Mazondo Raimundo de Iturriaga]

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
[Baldwin's, London, sold]; to Harvard Art Museums, 2014.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Paul Clarke Stauffer Fund
Accession Year
2014
Object Number
2014.130
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
Permissions

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request.

Descriptions

Description
Oval countermark on Potosi, Bolivia eight reales of Charles IV of Spain

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 2340 Cabinet Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 09/24/2019; Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/25/2019 - 06/02/2025

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu