Description
Denomination: Silver 8 Reales
Period: Charles III. Spanish Colonies
Date: 1772
Origin: Mexico mint. FM (inverted)
Condition: Almost VF for type. slight knock to edge
Obverse: Charles III bust in classic robes and laureate. right. CAROLVS III DEI GRATIA
Reverse: Crowned arms of Spain with two ornate pillars either side. HISPAN ET IND REX (M with o above monogram for Mexico mint. inverted) 8R FM (inverted)
Size and Weight: 40mm. 26.73g
References: KM# 73
Features and Provenance: There has never been a coin with so much folklore attached to it. This 8 Reale coin from the reign of Charles III of Spain was known as a Spanish dollar. but also more evocatively. as a ‘piece of eight.’ with all the romantic tales of Pirate treasure that this entails.
This coin. and those before it. were so popular that they were the first global currency throughout the Spanish Empire. With the British colonists not able to mint coins themselves and always running out of British coinage. they used the Spanish coins instead as they were very similar in weight of silver. This coin was minted in 1772 and could have been in the hands of the infamous pirates Anne Bonny and Black Bart (less likely as he died 1772 [not from rum. he preferred tea!] who operated in the Gulf of Mexico around this time. yes this is a remote possibility.
Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades inbetween
Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn
Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible
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