Mexico 1772-Mo FM 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Shown is an 1772MoFM half real, one of a type struck 1772-84. The dates 1772-73 are distinguished from later issues by possessing inverted mintmark and assayers' initials on the reverse. 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 1772-78. 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, .903 fine silver, .049 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-11109, KM 69.1.

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.
• Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
• ^[1]Harris, Robert P., Pillars & Portraits, San José, CA: Bonanza Press, 1968.

Link to:

• 1771 ½ real
• Colombia 1772-NR VJ 1/2 real
• Guatemala 1772-G P 1/2 real
• 1772 1 real
• 1772 2 reales
• 1772 4 reales
• 1772 8 reales
• 1772 escudo
• 1772 2 escudos
• 1772 4 escudos
• 1772 8 escudos
• 1773 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1772
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822