Mexico 1784-Mo FM 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Shown is an 1784MoFM half real, one of a type struck 1772-84. The bust of Charles III was used until 1789 but later issues were of slightly lower fineness and are catalogued as a separate sub-type. Assayer FM is recorded for the years 1783-1801. Assayer FF is noted for 1784 as well. The half real, as one-sixteenth of a dollar, would have traded in the United States for 6½¢. Harris^[1] notes that the Mexico City half real is the only mint that can be called abundant for Charles III, the second mint, Potosi, is less than half as common.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 1.69 g, 0.903 fine silver, .049 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-11199, KM 69.2.

Source:

• Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.
• Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
• 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.
• ^[1]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.

Link to:

• 1783 ½ real
• Bolivia 1784 ½ real
• Colombia 1784-NR JJ 1/2 real
• 1784 2 reales
• 1784 4 reales
• 1784 FF 8 reales
• 1784 FM 8 reales
• 1784 4 escudos
• 1785 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1784
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822