Mexico 1754-Mo M 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

The 1754MoM is one of a series of half reals struck 1747-1757, during the reign of Ferdinand VI. It is distinguished from later issues (KM 67.2, 1757-60) of half reals by having similar crowns atop the pillars on the date side. Gilboy^[1] lists this date as "common." He records no varieties for the date.

Mexican numismatists hotly debate which side of the coin constitutes the obverse. Gilboy^[1] depicts the shield side as the obverse as that side bears the king's name. However, auction catalogs and dealer listings more frequently use the pillars and globes side as the obverse, as that side bears the date.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 grams, 0.917 fine silver, .049 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-10199, Gilboy M-05-28, KM 67.1.

Source:

• ^[1]Gilboy, Frank F., The Milled Columnarios of Central and South America: Spanish American Pillar Coinage, 1732 to 1772, Regina, Saskatchewan: Prairie Wind Publishing, 1999.
• 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.
• Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
• Yonaka, Brad, A Variety Guide to the Fractional Pillar Coinage of Mexico City, 1732-1771, Long Beach, CA: Agorocu Consulting, 2017.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.

Link to:

• 1753 ½ real
• Peru 1754 ½ real
• 1754 1 real
• 1754 2 reales
• 1754 4 reales
• 1754 8 reales
• 1754 8 escudos
• 1755 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1754
• On the Pillar Coinage of Mexico, 1732-1771
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822