Mexico 1879-Pi BE 8 reales

Stack's Bowers May 2023 Collector's Choice sale, lot 70498

This specimen was lot 70498 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $168. The catalog description^[1] noted, "MEXICO. 8 Reales, 1879-Pi BE. San Luis Potosi Mint. NGC AU Details--Chopmarked. Bearing two small chops and a dusty mottled gray tone, this Mexican crown offers much individuality and visual interest. A charming example of this date." The San Luis Potosi mint opened in 1827 to process local ore and struck eight reales until 1893. The mint eventually struck all the silver denominations but never gold, altho patterns exist. The SCWC notes assayers MH (common), BE (shown here, somewhat scarce) and an 1879/8-MH overdate (fairly common). This is the only appearance of this assayer.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 27.07 g, .903 fine silver, .786 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM-377.12; DP-Pi66.

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.
• ^[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:

• 1878-P^I 8 reales
• 1879-D^O centavo
• 1879-D^O 5 centavos
• 1879-M^O 5 centavos
• 1879-A^S 10 centavos
• 1879-D^O 10 centavos
• 1879-P^I 10 centavos
• 1879-A 25 centavos
• 1879-C^N 25 centavos
• 1879-D^O 25 centavos
• 1879-G^O 25 centavos
• 1879-H^O 25 centavos
• 1879-M^O 25 centavos
• 1879-P^I 25 centavos
• 1879-Z^S 25 centavos
• 1879-D^O 50 centavos
• 1879-M^O 50 centavos
• 1879-Z^S 50 centavos
• 1879-A^S DL 8 reales
• 1879-A^S ML 8 reales
• 1879-C^N 8 reales
• 1879-D^O 8 reales
• 1879-G^A 8 reales
• 1879-G^O 8 reales
• 1879-H^O 8 reales
• 1879-M^O 8 reales
• 1879-O^A 8 reales
• 1879-P^I MR 8 reales
• 1879-P^I MR 8 reales
• 1879-Z^S 8 reales
• 1879-C^N gold peso
• 1879-M^O gold peso
• 1879-M^O 2½ pesos
• 1879-M^O 20 pesos
• 1880-P^I MR 8 reales
• Coins and currency dated 1879
• return to Silver eight reales of Mexico, 1822-1897