Peru 1761-L JM 1/2 real
This specimen is one of a series struck 1760-72 during the reign of Carlos III (1760-1788). There are several varieties for this year, including an overdate, a normal M in the mintmark, and a variety without a pellet after the date. This example is the 1761/0 overdate, and it also has a normal M in the mintmark. This variety combination is unlisted, hence the rarity is unknown. As a class, colonial coinage of Peru is much less plentiful than that of Mexico, though it is more available than the remaining mints. However, Harris[2] noted only one-fifth as many Peruvian half reales of Charles III as that of Mexico, so it is safe to say that this type is scarce.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.69 grams, 0.917 fine silver, 0.049 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: Cayón-11036, L-05-13a, KM 51.
- 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.
- [1]Gilboy, Frank F., The Milled Columnarios of Central and South America: Spanish American Pillar Coinage, 1732 to 1772, Regina, Saskatchewan: Prairie Wind Publishing, 1999.
- Yonaka, Brad, A Variety Guide to the Pillar Coinage of the Guatemala, Bogota, Lima, Potosi, and Santiago Mints, 1752-1771, Long Beach, CA: Agorocu Consulting, 2018.
- Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
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