Mexico 1674-Mo G 8 reales
This specimen was lot 31272 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it did not sell. The catalog description[1] noted, "Mexico. Charles II "Royal" 8 Reales 167(4) Mo-G Fine Details (Holed) NGC, Mexico City mint. By Gerónimo Bercerra. A piece which instantly stuns on account its absolute rarity if not for its technical preservation, Lazaro recorded only a single example of this date, which he believed to be unique and is the only recorded date for this assayer, and which was clearly struck from a different die pairing. Whereas that coin displayed a prominent colon after the date, this coin shows one or two square pellets before the final colon (very similar to Lazaro-51 and 52). Although wear is heaviest towards the edges, the beginning of the king's name and his ordinal can be made out with some effort, the remainder of the legends on the reverse being quite legible. Clearly pierced to be sewn onto clothing--and what an imposing display it would have been!--and very likely only the second known specimen from this date and engraver. Ex. Isaac Rudman Collection." This specimen is a silver cob eight reales struck at Mexico City 1665-1700. Specimens with clear dates are unusual. In 1728, cobs were debased from .931 to 0.917 fine silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.07 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 26.26 g.
Catalog reference: cf. KM-R46 (Rare; this assayer unlisted), cf. Lazaro-50 (Unique; different dies) = Cayón-7561 = Calbeto-685, Cal-254 (Extremely Rare), cf. Sedwick-M20.
- 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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