Mexico 1781-Mo FF 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Shown is an 1781MoFF half real, one of a type struck 1772-84. 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 FF is recorded for the years 1778-84. The half real, as one-sixteenth of a dollar, would have traded in the United States for 6½¢. Harris^[1] 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.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 g, 0.903 fine silver, .049 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-11181, KM 69.2.

Source:

• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
• ^[1]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.

Link to:

• 1780 ½ real
• Chile 1781 ½ real
• Colombia 1781-NR JJ 1/2 real
• 1781 real
• 1781 2 reales
• 1781 4 reales
• 1781 8 reales
• 1781 escudo
• 1781 2 escudos
• 1781 4 escudos
• 1781 8 escudos
• 1782 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1781
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822