8 Reales - Carlos IV Proclamation coinage

Proclamation pieces like this one were not struck for circulation. They were produced in limited quantities to be distributed — often thrown into crowds or presented to dignitaries — during the official ceremony proclaiming a new monarch in colonial cities. Carlos IV's acclamation took place in Mexico City in late 1789, months after his father Carlos III died in December 1788, the delay owing to the time required for news to cross the Atlantic and preparations to be organized.

The Q prefix in the KM reference designates it as a proclamation coinage, a category distinct from standard milled coinage of the period. Many survivors show minimal wear precisely because they were kept as souvenirs rather than spent.