September 2012 Treasure of the Month

Our featured Treasure of the Month is an intimate group of five Mexican eight reales from the Spanish colonial mind at Mexico City. These coins display the prominent hammer marks or faceting blows, that are so characteristic of Mexican cob coinage. This was a common Mexican mint practice. But why? There are competing theories. For one explanation, consult Alan K. Craig’s authoritative monograph Spanish Colonial Silver Coins in the Florida Collection, (University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 2000, pp. 89-91). (NOTE: Although these coins are, except for one partial date, undated, it is still possible to approximate when the coins were actually minted. This can be accomplished by studying the shields on the obverse of each coin. A cursory review of these coins reveals that they were most likely produced between 1711 and 1713.)