Mexico 1774-Mo FM 1/2 real
The first specimen shown was lot 199 in Aureo y Calicó sale 242 (Barcelona, March 2012), where it sold for 65 € (about US$101 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"Carlos III (1759-1788). 1774. México. FM. Medio real. Bella. Parte de brillo original. Rara así. EBC. (Charles III, 1759-88, half real of 1774, Mexico City mint, partial luster, rare thus, extremely fine.)"
The bust of Charles III was used until 1789 but later issues were of slightly lower fineness and are catalogued as a separate sub-type. Assayer FM is recorded for the years 1772-77. The half real, as one-sixteenth of a dollar, would have traded in the United States for 6½¢. Harris[2] notes that the Mexico City half real is the only mint that can be called abundant for Charles III, the second mint, Potosi, is less than half as common.
Reported Mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 g, 0.903 fine silver, .049 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11127, KM 69.2, Cal. 1766.
- 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.
- [1]Sisó, Teresa, Eduardo Domingo and Lluís Lalana, Selección de 500 Monedas, Medallas y Billetes, Barcelona: Aureo y Calicó Subastas, 2012.
- [2]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
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