Mexico 1789-Mo FM 4 reales
Shown is an 1789MoFM four reales, one of a type struck 1789-90 in Mexico City. King Charles III died early in 1788 but new dies for Charles IV were not ready until 1791; in the interim, the old bust was used with the new king's name. Assayer FM is recorded for the years 1784-1801. The four reales is the scarcest of the colonial denominations and when found, is usually in low grade. The first specimen shown, lot 462 in Ponterio sale 135, is better than average. The second specimen was lot 71721 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $1,920. The catalog description[1] noted, "MEXICO. 4 Reales, 1789-Mo FM. Mexico City Mint. Charles IV. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, AU Details. Some brushing is evident on the surfaces of this otherwise pleasingly well-preserved silver minor. The coin displays fine details and appealing steely-gray toning. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Ponterio & Associates Sale 28 (05/1987), Lot # 1187."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 13.54 g, 0.896 fine silver, .393 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-13694, KM 98.
- 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.
- 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.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The November 2022 Collectors Choice Ancient & World Coins Auction, Featuring the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to:
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- 1789 ½ real, Charles III
- 1789 real, Charles IV
- 1789 2 reales
- Bolivia 1789-PTS PR 4 reales, "CAROLUS·III·"
- Bolivia 1789 4 reales, Charles IV
- Chile 1789-So DA 4 reales KM-34, "CAROLUS·III·"
- Chile 1789-So DA 4 reales KM-38, "·CAROLUS·IV·"
- Guatemala 1789-NG M 4 reales, "·CAROLUS·IV·"
- 1789 4 reales, "CAROLUS·III·"
- Peru 1789 4 reales, Charles III
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- 1789-Mo FM 8 reales, Charles IV
- 1789 escudo
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- Coins and currency dated 1789
- return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822