Mexico 1812-Mo HJ 4 reales

Stack's Bowers November 2022 Collectors Choice sale, lot 71730

This specimen was lot 71730 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2022), where it sold for $552. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. Private Countermark. 4 Reales, 1812-Mo HJ. Mexico City Mint. Ferdinand VII. PCGS VF-25. This piece bears an interesting countermark directly over the obverse bust, displaying the simple and clear legend 'STERLING'. It is unknown where, when, or by whom this countermark was struck, and even the obvious presumption that its purpose was to mark objects of sterling silver purity (0.925) is complicated by the fact that this 4 Reales piece is composed of 0.903 silver. The host coin is a somewhat circulated Mexico City 4 Reales piece with deep gray toning. An intriguing and presentable coin. From the Pat Johnson Collection. Ex: Spink America Auction December 5, 1995, Lot #531. 'The Pablo Gerber Senior Collection'." This specimen displays the imaginary bust of Ferdinand VII used in Mexico 1808-12. Ferdinand VII, languishing in a French prison, was not available to have his portrait taken. The 4 reales is the scarcest of the silver denominations. This type is considerably harder to find than the preceding Charles IV issue (KM 100, struck 1792-1808) but, in turn, comes up more often than its successor, the "standard bust" type of Ferdinand VII (KM 102, struck 1816-21).

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 13.54 g, 0.896 fine silver.

Catalog reference: Cayón-15680, KM-101; Cal-1092; Brunk-S-918 (for countermark).

Source:

Brunk, Gregory G. (ed.), World Countermarks on Medieval and Modern Coins, An Anthology from the Numismatist, Lawrence, PA: Quarterman Publications, 1976.
Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, vol. 1, 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.
Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
^[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:

Mexico 1812-Mo HJ 4 reales

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