1669

[ Withdrawn ] Mexico City, Mexico, bust 8 reales, Charles IV, 1790FM, non-transitional, unique.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / World Silver Coins - Haiti-Vietnam Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
[ Withdrawn ] Mexico City, Mexico, bust 8 reales, Charles IV, 1790FM, non-transitional, unique.
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Mexico City, Mexico, bust 8 reales, Charles IV, 1790FM, non-transitional, unique. KM-unl. (cf. 109); CT-unl. (Type 82). 25.8 grams. Charles III died in December of 1788, leaving the throne to his second son, Charles IV. The new Charles' portrait, however, was not immediately available to the New World mints, which were allowed to continue using Charles III's portrait with the ordinal as IIII until the new punches arrived, giving rise to the “transitional” issues of 1789-91 from the various mints in the Americas. According to all recent references, the proper-bust Charles IV type at Mexico began in 1791; but Guatemala-mint 8 reales specimens of 1790 with the proper bust of Charles IV are well known (albeit rare), so it is quite conceivable that Mexican-mint specimens were made as well. In fact, the Mexican proper-bust 1790 8 reales was believed to exist until recent decades (see Elizondo #106, listed as “Extremely Rare”), and it is notable that no Mexican transitionals are known for 1791. What seems to have happened, then, is that modern experts simply eliminated the listing for having never seen one in their lifetimes. Our specimen, with F-VF details enhanced by light toning, yet slightly underweight due to fine pitting on its surfaces, will no doubt have its authenticity called into question, but to our eyes it appears completely genuine.