Mexico (1547-53)-oMo L 1/2 real
This specimen was lot 39320 in Stack's Bowers Winter sale (Baltimore, November 2015), where it sold for $558.13. The catalog description[1] noted, "MEXICO. Carlos & Johanna, Late Series. 1/2 Real, ND (ca. 154?-1552 or 1553). Assayer L (oMo-L). NGC VF Details--Repaired. 'PL_V_S' across pillars. Nice round flan with full legends on both sides. A wholesome looking coin with expertly repaired surface just above the PL in the left field. Possible lamination repair. For wear, the coin looks to be quite a bit nicer than VERY FINE with much of the die striations still evident all through the obverse fields, and clear crisp legends all around. A desirable and readily identifiable type. Quite attractive and an exceptional example of the type. Pedigree: From the David O'Harrow Collection." The "Carlos and Johanna" coinage of 1536-55 is complicated and difficult to disentangle as records are sparse and the coins are not dated.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 g, 0.931 fine silver, .050 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cal-type-123#179a; Nesmith-87c; KM-6.5, Cayón-3016.
- Krause, Chester L., and Colin R. Bruce II, Standard Catalog of World Coins: Spain, Portugal and the New World, Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2002.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, and Todd McKenna, The November 2015 Baltimore Auction, World Coins and Paper Money, featuring the Ray Czabor Collection and selections from the Strong Museum, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2015.
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