8 Reales Chilpanzingo and Morelos countermarks

During the Mexican War of Independence, insurgent forces under José María Morelos operated largely without access to established mints. To legitimize captured royalist silver and fund their campaign, the insurgency counterstamped circulating 8 reales — the Chilpanzingo mark referencing the Congress of Chilpanzingo convened in 1813, where Morelos declared independence from Spain. These are among the very few coin types directly attributable to a specific political act of the independence movement rather than a colonial minting authority.

The host coins are typically Fernando VII bust pieces. Both countermarks must be present for the type designation under KM#284.