Grade 2, 2 Reale, Assayer “A” Phillip ii Potosi
Juan Álvarez de Reinalte was an assayer at the Potosí Mint during the early 17th century. His tenure as assayer occurred during a period marked by significant challenges in minting operations, most notably the Great Potosí Mint Scandal of the 1640s.
As assayer, Reinalte was responsible for overseeing the production of silver coins, ensuring that they met the specified standards of weight and purity. However, his name became infamous when it was discovered that coins produced under his supervision, along with other assayers of the time, were debased. This scandal involved reducing the silver content in the coins below the legal standards, which caused massive repercussions for the Spanish economy and international trade, as trust in the reliability of Spanish silver coins collapsed.
Reinalte, along with other mint officials, was implicated in the fraud, which led to severe consequences. Some assayers and mint officials were executed, while others were severely punished for their roles in the scandal. The event tarnished the reputation of the Potosí Mint and led to reforms in Spanish coin production.
Coins produced under Juan Álvarez de Reinalte can often be identified by his assayer’s mark, “A”, stamped on the coins alongside the mint mark and the royal symbols. These coins are historically significant and sought after by collectors, both for their rarity and their connection to one of the most notorious scandals in colonial Spanish history.
