Colombia, Cuartillo Milled Cob - 1/4 Real

1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1756-96). Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino (Bogota) Mint. Time of Charles III to Charles IV. Often mentioned but seldom seen. This 1/4 Real was previously said to have been minted for use in the Philippines. At that time it was thought to have been struck in Lima Peru. Further research needed and accomplished by Mr. Herman Blanton & Restrepo. See the similar 1/4 Reales for Mexico and other Spanish colonies. This coin is about XF+ at .86 gram and ~ 11 mm this coin meets the Spanish standard. This is an example of the milled Cuartillo with wide castle. In August of 1755 records show that 40,536 were struck in Santa Fe, Colombia. Appears to be a 'wide castle' variety.
Interestingly, a Jun 2021 Steve Album auction presents this type of coin, encapsulated, and attributed to the Philippines under Carlos IV [1788 - 1808]. It sold for a considerable sum and you can, perhaps, see the listing at this: [ link ]
From a Sedwick Treasure Sale (04/23 Heritage): Bogota, Colombia, 1/4 real, Ferdinand VI or Charles III, no date or mintmark or assayer (anepigraphic issue), pillar-style castle and lion (1756-1770), NGC MS 61. Restrepo-2.1. Bold strike with sunburst metal-flowlines to 100% complete rims (two tiny rim-splits, as made), brilliantly lustrous as from the same Bogota hoard that yielded the famous 1770 pillar dollars. [ [ link ] ]

From a Steve Album Auction 05/'23: SPANISH COLONIES: Carlos IV, 1788-1808, AR ¼ real, ND (1794-5), KM-4 (Philippines), AC-142, type without date or mintmark, VF, R. This piece in the past has been attributed to the Philippines, but new documentary evidence shows that this type was minted at the mints of Guatemala, Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino, and Potosi in 1794 and 1795.

This exact type is listed in a Stacks Bowers auction (Jan 2024) at Lot# 51010: COLOMBIA. 1/4 Real, ND (ca. 1756-96). Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino (Bogota) Mint. Time of Charles III to Charles IV. NGC MS-61.
EMO-141.1 (Plate coin); KM-Unlisted; Cal-159 (for Charles IV); Restrepo-Type-2 (for Ferdinand VI). Variety with lion's tail curled inward. A terrific exemplar of this elegant anepigraphic issue. The distinctive wide castle of Colombia appears boldly on the obverse opposite a sharply-defined lion. Free of any problems, the coin retains subtle luster beneath its soft iridescent tone. Estimate: $300 - $500.

Attribution of this 1/4 Real has been reassigned to Colombia based on ground breaking evidence presented in these "Numismatics International's "Bulletin" articles and discussion:
DOWNLOAD & VIEW:
Santa Fe Cob - Blanton: /library/Santa%20Fe%20Cob%20-%20Blanton.pdf
Santa Fe Cuartillo - Restrepo: /library/Santa%20Fe%20Cuartillo%20-%20Restrepo.pdf