Mexico 1609-Mo A 1/2 real

Sedwick sale 34, lot 636

This specimen was lot 636 in Sedwick sale 34 (Winter Park, FL, November 2023), where it sold for $204. The catalog description^[1] noted, "Mexico City, Mexico, cob 1/2 real, 1609/8 A/F, extremely rare. Full crown and monogram with V above and fleur below, clear A/F to right and most of 9 of date with faint traces of under-digit 8 (clean-date 1609 A/F unknown so far in any case), good full cross, deeply toned Fine. Pedigreed to the Clyde Hubbard Collection of Mexican silver cobs, accompanied by original tag or holder." The SCWC states that this type was struck 1607-21 but lists only 1609-10, 1613 and 1620 as confirmed dates, altho the 1609/8 shown here is not mentioned. This denomination is not rare but few have legible dates, making an assembly of all the dates very challenging.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 g, 0.931 fine silver, this specimen 1.57 grams.

Catalog reference: Cayón-limonite, S-M16; KM-21 (overdate not listed).

Source:

• 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.
• Cuhaj, George S., and Thomas Michael, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700, 6th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2014.
• Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
• ^[1]Sedwick, Daniel Frank, Augi Garcia, Cori Sedwick Downing and Connor Falk, Treasure Auction 34, World, U.S Coins and Paper Money, Winter Park, FL: Daniel Frank Sedwick LLC, 2023.

Link to:

• 1608 ½ real
• 1608 1 real
• 1609 real
• 1609 4 reales
• 1609 "royal" 8 reales
• 1610 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1609
• return to Mexican hammered and cob coinage, 1536-1734