Felipe V inherited the Spanish throne in 1700 through the will of the heirless Carlos II, triggering the War of the Spanish Succession — a conflict that consumed most of Europe until 1714 and left the new Bourbon dynasty fighting for its legitimacy from the moment of accession. The Mexico City mint continued striking cob-style reales throughout this period largely unchanged from Habsburg production, which was deliberate: the Crown needed colonial silver revenue to fund the war, and any disruption to minting output was politically unacceptable.
The macuquina fabric of this issue means no two examples are identical. Weight and silver content were the only guarantees; shape was incidental.
Felipe V inherited the Spanish throne in 1700 through the will of the heirless Carlos II, triggering the War of the Spanish Succession — a conflict that consumed most of Europe until 1714 and left the new Bourbon dynasty fighting for its legitimacy from the moment of accession. The Mexico City mint continued striking cob-style reales throughout this period largely unchanged from Habsburg production, which was deliberate: the Crown needed colonial silver revenue to fund the war, and any disruption to minting output was politically unacceptable.
The macuquina fabric of this issue means no two examples are identical. Weight and silver content were the only guarantees; shape was incidental.