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8 Reales - Isabella II Countermark on Mexico 8 Reales
| Issuer | Spanish Colonial Administration (Philippines) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1834-1837 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 27.06 g |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The crowned arms of Castile and León occupy the central field, displaying the quartered royal coat of arms with castles and lions, flanked on either side by the Pillars of Hercules with their respective globes symbolising the Spanish Empire's reach beyond the known world. The circumferential legend reads HISPAN ET IND REX, with the mint mark Mo (Mexico City), denomination 8R, and assayer initials T·H distributed around the periphery. The motto PLUS VLTRA appears on the ribbons adorning the Pillars of Hercules. A toothed border frames the entire design. The reverse shows no countermark, retaining its original milled appearance in full. |
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| Mintage | ND (1834-1837) - Host coin 1791-1808. |
| Additional information |
In the 1830s, the Philippines faced a chronic shortage of certified circulating silver. Rather than wait for freshly minted coin from Spain or Mexico City, Manila's treasury authorized the countermarking of existing Mexican 8 reales — already abundant in Pacific trade — with a crowned F7 or Isabel II punch to validate them as legal tender in the archipelago. The practice was administratively expedient but produced an uneven monetary supply, since the host coins varied considerably in date, condition, and actual silver content.
The countermark itself was applied by hand, which means placement and depth vary from piece to piece.