Lot 4389
Mexico. 4 Reales, No Date-M-M (Mexico City); Assayer R (Francisco del Rincon). KM-0016; Cayon-3122. 13.55 grams. Carlos & Joanna, 1516-1556. Early Coinage (1538-1541); small central design. Crowned arms of Castille and Leon; gothic-style mintmarks. Reverse: Crowned pillars, value between, rhomboidal panel; assayer mark below. Cleanly struck on lightly oval flan. Some trivial edge weakness. Handsome old toning. Extremely Rare.
Probable date struck, late 1538. Of special note, this type, with Assayer R, and the rhomboid panel (plain, without dots), and the overall die style, closely corresponds to the Assayer R, Eight Reales struck at this same period. NGC graded AU-50.
Mexico City was the first Spanish mint established in the New World. Cortez, the conquistador of Mexico, as early as 1525, four years after the conquest petitioned Spain for a mint. Ten years later, in 1535, Antonio de Mendoza arrived in Mexico as the first Viceroy. He began almost immediately to mint coins. Two types of coins were produced, the earlier type with no waves on the obverse (1536-1542), and the later types with the obverse waves (1542-1572. The earlier type as offered here, is far rarer.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
Ex Buddy de Silva Collection, Superior, 2/78, lot 1421. Calico no. 79 (plate coin). Ex F.C.C. Boyd Collection. Ex Millennia, Lot 1074.
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