Mexico 1768-Mo M 2 reales

from the Mountain Groan Collection

This 1768 two reales is one of a series struck 1760-71 during the reign of Charles III (1759-88). Gilboy^[1] notes the date as common with a rare 1768/6 overdate.

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: 6.77 grams, 0.917 fine silver, .200 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-11503, Gilboy M-2-43, KM 87.

Sources:

• ^[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.
• Yonaka, Brad, A Variety Guide to the Fractional Pillar Coinage of Mexico City, 1732-1771, Long Beach, CA: Agorocu Consulting, 2017.
• 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.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.

Link to:

• 1766 2 reales
• 1768 pattern 1/16 real, struck in brass
• 1768 ½ real
• 1768 1 real
• Bolivia 1768-PTS JR 2 reales
• Peru 1768-L JM 2 reales
• 1768 4 reales
• 1768 8 reales
• 1768 2 escudos
• 1768 4 escudos
• 1768 8 escudos
• 1769 2 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1768
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822
• On the Pillar Coinage of Mexico, 1732-1771