Mexico 1885-Do MC 8 reales

Stack's Bowers May 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70459

This specimen was lot 70459 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $216. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. 8 Reales, 1885-Do MC. Durango Mint. NGC Unc Details--Stained. This nicely preserved example exhibits boldly struck frosty devices with lustrous satiny surfaces. Close inspection reveals a slight discoloration throughout accounting for the details designation of 'Stained'. Despite its shortcomings, a handsome and presentable example of the date." The Durango mint was opened in 1812 to strike portrait eight reales during the War of Independence. It was one of three mints to strike "hookneck eagle" eight reales in 1824. The standard eagle was adopted in 1825. Durango struck all the gold and silver denominations except the four reales and the four escudos. For 1885, assayer MC is very common and assayer JB is fairly common. By this time, the distinctive hubs using an elegant eagle (often called the "French eagle") were abandoned and Durango eight reales look much like those of other mints. The Durango mint closed in 1895, along with Guadalajara, Chihuahua, Alamos and Hermosillo.

Recorded mintage: 547,000 (both assayers).

Specification: 27.07 g, 0.903 fine silver, .786 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM-377.4; DP-Do73.

Source:

• 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.
• Elizondo, Carlos A., Eight Reales and Pesos of the New World, San Antonio, TX: 1968.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• Raymond, Wayte, The Silver Dollars of North and South America, 2nd Ed., Racine, WI: Whitman Publishing, 1964.
• Salmeron, Antonio Deana, La Casa de Moneda de Durango, Acuñaciones de Plata, 1824-1895, Puebla, Mexico, 1983.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, May 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Featuring the Richard Elliott Collection of Hooknecks, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
• Utberg, Neil S., The Coins of Mexico, 1536-1963, San Antonio, TX, 1963.

Link to:

• 1884-D^O 8 reales
• 1885-A^S 10 centavos
• 1885-C^N 10 centavos
• 1885-G^O 10 centavos
• 1885-H^O 10 centavos
• 1885-M^O 10 centavos
• 1885-P^I C 10 centavos
• 1885-P^I H 10 centavos
• 1885-Z^S 10 centavos
• 1885-A 25 centavos
• 1885-CH 25 centavos
• 1885-C^N 25 centavos
• 1885-D^O 25 centavos
• 1885-G^O 25 centavos
• 1885-H^O 25 centavos
• 1885-M^O 25 centavos
• 1885-P^I H 25 centavos
• 1885-Z^S 25 centavos
• 1885-A^S 50 centavos
• 1885-CH^A 50 centavos
• 1885-C^N 50 centavos
• 1885-D^O 50 centavos
• 1885-G^O 50 centavos
• 1885-M^O 50 centavos
• 1885-P^I H 50 centavos
• 1885-Z^S 50 centavos
• 1885-A^S 8 reales
• 1885-C^A 8 reales
• 1885-C 8 reales
• 1885-C^N 8 reales
• 1885-D^O JB 8 reales
• 1885-G^A AH 8 reales
• 1885-G^A JS 8 reales
• 1885-G^O 8 reales
• 1885-H^O 8 reales
• 1885-M^O 8 reales
• 1885-O^A 8 reales
• 1885-P^I MH 8 reales
• 1885-P^I LC 8 reales
• 1885-Z^S 8 reales
• 1885-C^N gold peso
• 1885-M^O gold peso
• 1885-M^O 2½ pesos
• 1885-A^S 10 pesos
• 1885-M^O 20 pesos
• 1886-D^O 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1885
• return to Silver eight reales of Mexico, 1822-1897