Mexico 1865-Ca FP 8 reales

Heritage sale 3037, lot 30324

photo courtesy Heritage Auction Galleries

This specimen was lot 30324 in Heritage sale 3037 (New York, January 2015), where it sold for $4,700. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Republic Caps and Rays 8 Reales 1865 Ca-FP AU55 PCGS, Chihuahua mint. About uncirculated, well struck and showing partially lustrous surfaces with considerable subdued luster. Very rare in any grade, this specimen being particularly attractive. Interestingly, this and the following lot represent the only two dates of the Chihuahua series showing assayer initials "F. P." for Francisco Potts and were struck under Emperor Maximilian. The latter was the brother of John Potts, a British entrepreneur and industrialist who had obtained the lease of the mint at Chihuahua in late 1839 (in partnership with his brother and John Jennison). These dates showing Pott's initials rank among the rarest and most desirable Chihuahua issues and are rarely offered in the present preservation. Truly a landmark offering for the specialist of this popular and challenging series." The Chihuahua mint struck eight reales 1831-95. Many of the early dates are rare but this one is still quite scarce. Two mintmasters (FP and JC) are known for this date, of which JC is the less rare.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.903 fine silver, .785 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM 377.2, DP-Ca39.

Source:

• ^[1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Buttrey, T. V., and Clyde Hubbard, A Guide Book of Mexican Coins, 1822 to date, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1992.
• Dunigan, Mike, and J. B. Parker, Resplandores: Cap and Ray 8 Reales of The Republic of Mexico, 1823-1897, Beverly Hills, CA: Superior Stamp & Coin, 1997.
• Salmeron, Antonio Deana, La Casa de Moneda de Chihuahua y sus Labraciones de Plata, Puebla, Mexico, 1989.

Link to:

• Chihuahua 1865 ¼ real
• Sinaloa 1865 1/4 real
• Mexico 1865-G 5 centavos Maximilian
• Mexico 1865-Z 5 centavos Maximilian
• Mexico 1865-Z 10 centavos Maximilian
• 1865-Z^S 2 reales
• 1865-A 8 reales
• 1865-C 8 reales
• 1865-C^A JC 8 reales
• 1865-D^O 8 reales
• 1865-H^O 8 reales
• 1865-Z^S 8 reales
• 1865-C 8 escudos
• 1865-D^O 8 escudos
• 1865-C^A 8 escudos
• 1865-Z^S 8 escudos
• 1866-Ca FP 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1865
• return to Silver eight reales of Mexico, 1822-1897