Mexico 1786-Mo FM 1/2 real

from the Mountain Groan Collection

Shown is an 1786MoFM half real, one of a type struck 1785-89. The bust of Charles III was used until 1789 but earlier issues were of slightly higher fineness and are catalogued as a separate sub-type. Assayer FM is recorded for the years 1785-1801. 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, 0.896 fine silver, .048 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: Cayón-11214, KM 69.2a.

Source:

• 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:

• 1785 ½ real
• Chile 1786 ½ real
• 1786 real
• 1786 8 escudos
• 1787 ½ real
• Coins and currency dated 1786
• return to Mexican colonial coinage, 1536-1822