The mint at Mexico City was the first to strike
coins for the Spain in the New World. It started in 1536 with some round and
very well-executed issues under Charles-Joanna that are technically not
known as cobs, and then it changed to the more familiar shield-type design
in the late 1500s. This Mexican shield-type design was known around the
world as a reliable coin, a true universal currency, the "piece of eight"
that was referred to in nearly every major commerce area in its time (1600s
and 1700s). In 1732-1734 the shield-type cob was finally phased out and
eventually replaced (after an experimental, machine-struck but hand-cut "klippe"
type) by the even more-famous machine-made "pillar dollars."
Mexico, 4 reales,
Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," O to left, oM to right.VF with nice, natural toning,
bold full shield and motto across full pillars, some legend, no doubling
except on assayer.
e051004191016
$375
Mexico, 2 reales,
Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," M to left, L to right.Full shield and pillars,
well-centered on a broad but somewhat oval flan, Fine+ for wear.
e041003128004
$295
Mexico, 2 reales,
Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," oM to left, O to right.Choice XF+ with beautiful
natural toning, full and well-detailed shield and pillars, some legend,
really exceptional for this assayer.
e041003131015
$395
Mexico, 2 reales,
Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," oM to left, O to right.Full and bold king's name,
nice full pillars and shield and assayer O, otherwise typical for type, VF
for grade, lightly toned.
e0809016022022
$295
Mexico, 2 reales,
Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," oM to left, O to right.Broad flan with bold legends,
nice full shield, full pillars, VF or better, and with contrasting toning,
just a bit crude overall.
e051004191017
$165
Mexico, 2 reales,
Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," M to left, O to right, scarce variety.Lightly toned VF with bold
mintmark (lacking the o above) and assayer, but with some flat spots and
crudely shaped.
Mexico, cob 8 reales, 1655/4P, rare.Broad flan with full date and clear overdate, full oMP and shield and particularly nice cross, Fine or so and dark as from unspecified salvage, pedigreed to the John Pullin collection.
e051004191022
$395
Mexico, cob 8 reales, (1)657P, rare.Bold full oMP and clear date, nice full cross, full but partially flat shield, nicely toned VF, pedigreed to the John Pullin collection.
Mexico, cob 2 reales, (16)55, o(MP), bold date, rare.Full and clear 55 of date, nearly full cross, some crown and shield, crudely worn (VG), desirable as pedigreed to the Mark Bir collection.
Mexico, cob 1 real,
Philip II, upside-down oM to left, I/O to right, king's name as -PVS I*II,
UNIQUE.This period is plagued with
odd errors, but this one is the strangest we have seen, with the mintmark
punched in upside-down and a strange extra I after the king's name but
before the ornament and proper ordinal II (which appears to be punched over
an old D.G), full cross, small flan, AVF or so.
e080916022034
Reduced!
$225
Mexico, cob 1 real, Philip II, O to left, oM to right.Broad, round, thin flan with full shield between bold O and oM, choice full cross, mostly flat peripheries with small edge-split, AXF with contrasting tan sediment in crevices.
e011020111001
$135
Mexico, cob 1 real, Philip II, oM to left, O
to right. Typically round, thin and well detailed, with good full cross
and shield (some flat spots), most of crown, bold assayer O and king's name
in legend, lightly toned VF.
e061004191004
$110
Mexico, cob 1 real,
Philip II or III, oMoD to right, F to left, rare.Nice Fine with full and
clear oMoD to right of full shield, weaker F to left, full but slightly
doubled cross, nicely toned, desirable as pedigreed to the Mark Bir
collection.
e110904191013
$225
Mexico, cob 1 real, Charles II, oM(?), interesting wedge shape.Sharply pointed shape (hardly practical for purses!), bold oM, most of cross, some shield, VF with flat peripheries.
Mexico, cob 1/2 real, Philip II, O to left, oM to right.Nice specimen on a large flan with much legend (full king's ordinal II) and nearly full crown, bold full monogram and cross, toned VF with edge-split.
e051004191025
$125
Mexico, cob 1/2 real, Philip II, O to left, oM to right.Full crown and monogram and cross but all a bit weak (and some flat spots), mostly toned, About Fine overall.
In 2010, Mexico will commemorate the bicentennial
of its Independence movement and the centennial of its Revolution with an
extensive
program of events. Mexicans and foreign citizens alike are invited to
participate in these events to learn about and reflect on Mexico’s past.
Arco del Bicentenario - Bicentennial Arch:
A monument to commemorate the bicentennial will be constructed in Mexico City
along the Paseo de la Reforma, the city's main avenue,
beside the Torre Mayor.A
contest was held for the design of this monument,
and the winner was architect
César Pérez Becerril with his design of two 104 meter high columns made of steel
and covered in quartz.
The Bicentennial Arch will be inaugurated on September
15, 2010.
