Mexico (1599-1607)-Mo F 2 reales
This specimen was lot 31268 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $6,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "Mexico. Philip III "Royal" 2 Reales ND (1599-1607) Mo-F VF Details (Holed) NGC, Mexico City mint. By Francisco de Morales. A stunning rarity and by all indications unrecorded, the type entirely absent from the Fonrobert, Guttag, Norweb, and Karon collections, with none of the standard literature we have consulted making any reference to Mexican "Royal" 2 Reales (or any of the Real fractions below the 8) produced prior to the reign of Charles II. Well-known to be of far greater rarity than the full 8 Reales galanos or redondos, these specially-made fractions are frequently missing from even the highest end collections, both due to their naturally smaller size and tiny incidence on the auction market. Certainly no less beautiful than any of its larger-size counterparts, this specimen retains a fully appreciable level of integral detail, the king's name and ordinal, together with the mintmark and assayer's initial, plain as day and in no way impinged upon by the nail whole that is so common a feature for the series. Likely the only chance to acquire so rare a specimen, and an opportunity that is not to be missed. Ex. Isaac Rudman Collection." The Mexico City mint did not add dates to its product until 1607 (KM 32.2).
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.77 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 5.6 g.
Catalog reference: KM-32.1 (regular issue), Cal-Unl., Cayón-4559, Guttag-Unl., Fonrobert-Unl., cf. Sedwick-M12a.
- Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
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