Spanish Colonial Silver 1/2 Reales of Various Mints
Item #CC-1037 | Spanish Colonial Silver 1/2 Reales of Various Mints
Mint: Potosi, Mexico City & Lima
Assayer: Assorted
Ruler/Period: 17th and 18th Centuries
Grade: Good to Fine
Description: These coins are 1/2 reales from the Spanish Empire, the smallest silver coins circulating at the time. This large group is a mix of mints, with a varying degree of condition and size. Some pieces have dates, others have full crosses or monograms, and some have period punched holes in them from being worn. Purchasing one or more of these 1/2 reales does not guarantee you any particular coin. A purchase of a 1/2 real from this group is at random and cannot be exchanged for another. These coins were found in 2026 by metal detectorists in South America along old Spanish trails or near the ocean. We provide no provenance to any given place or shipwreck, what you see is what you can expect. Overall, these are great surviving examples from the height of the Spanish Empire and their conquest of the Americas. The coins on average weigh 1-1.6 grams.
Beginning in the early 16th century, the Spanish Empire emerged as the world’s dominant global power, fueled by vast silver and gold resources from the Americas. To manage this wealth, Spain established major colonial mints, starting with the Mexico City Mint in 1535, followed by others such as Lima and Potosí. Early Spanish coins were hand-struck silver cobs, including the famous 8 reales, which became the first truly global currency, circulating throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. By the late 17th and 18th centuries, Spain transitioned to milled coinage with more precise designs to combat fraud and debasement. Spanish imperial coinage not only financed wars and trade but also shaped the foundations of the modern global monetary system.
In stock
$85.00
