Mexico 1608-Mo F 1/2 real

from the Stack's Bowers 2017 ANA sale, lot 22650

This specimen was lot 22650 in Stack's ANA sale (Denver, August 2017), where it sold for $646.25. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. 1/2 Real, 1608-F. Philip III (1598-1621). NGC FINE-15. VERY RARE. Fully readable date even though the tops of the numbers run off the flan. Nicely centered with a full monogram of the king, clear mint mark and assayer's letter as well as a full cross on the reverse. Quite attractive." This specimen is a silver cob half real struck at Mexico City 1598-1621. Specimens with clear dates are unusual. In 1728, cobs were debased from .931 to .917 fine silver.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 grams, .931 fine silver, .050 troy oz ASW, this specimen 1.58 gms.

Catalog reference: Cayón-4414, Cal-type-163#548; KM-21.

Source:

• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, 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 Juan Carlos I, 1474 a 2001, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2008.
• Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
• ^[1]Ponterio, Richard, Kyle Ponterio and Chris Chatigny, The August 2017 Denver ANA Auction: Ancients, Selections from The Richard Stuart Collection & World Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2017.

Link to:

• 1608 real
• 1609 8 reales
• 1610 8 reales
• 1610 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1608
• return to Mexican hammered and cob coinage, 1536-1734