View source for Mexico 1738/7-Mo MF 1/2 Real

[[Image:MEX_1738_M-05-11a-obv.JPG|300px|thumb|from the Acanthite collection]]
[[Image:MEX_1738_M-05-11a-rev.JPG|300px|thumb|from the Acanthite collection]]
[[Image:Mexico 1738 medio real obv DC.jpg|300px|thumb|regular date]]
[[Image:Mexico 1738 medio real rev DC.jpg|300px|thumb|regular date]]

This 1738/7 ½ Real from the Mexico City mint is an example of the first design for pillar fractionals, where the obverse legend surrounds the periphery. This design was changed in 1742 to allow the crown to extend to the rim (see the [[Mexico 1743-Mo M 1/2 real|1743 ½ real]]). This overdate variety is considered to be rare. 

[[Mexico|Mexican]] numismatists hotly debate which side of the coin constitutes the obverse. Gilboy<sup>[1]</sup> depicts the shield side as the obverse as that side bears the king's name. However, auction catalogs and dealer listings more frequently use the pillars and globes side as the obverse, as that side bears the date. 

''Recorded mintage:'' unknown. 

''Specification:'' 1.68 grams, 0.917 fine silver, 0.049 troy oz ASW. 

''Catalog reference:'' Gilboy M-05-11a, KM 65. 

''[[Bibliography|Sources:]]'' 
* <sup>[1]</sup> Gilboy, Frank F., ''The Milled Columnarios of Central and South America: Spanish American Pillar Coinage, 1732 to 1772'', Regina, Saskatchewan: Prairie Wind Publishing, 1999. 
* Harper, David C., ed., ''North American Coins & Prices: A Guide to U. S., Canadian and Mexican Coins, 17th Ed.'', Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2007.

''Link to:''
* [[Mexico 1737-Mo MF 1/2 real|1737 ½ real]]
* [[Mexico 1739-Mo MF 1/2 real|1739 ½ real]]
* [[Mexico 1743-Mo M 1/2 real|1743 ½ real]]
* [[Coins and currency dated 1738]]
* return to [[Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822]]
* [[On the Pillar Coinage of Mexico, 1732-1771]]

[[Category:Silver minors of Mexico]][[Category:Pillar Coinage]][[Category:Selections from the Acanthite collection]]