Description
Country or authority: Mexico (New Spain, under Spanish rule)
Year or date range: 1797
Denomination: 8 reales
Composition: Silver
Ruler or portrait: Charles IV of Spain (CAROLUS IIII)
Mint or mintmark: Mexico City; M° mintmark, with F M assayer initials
Catalogue references: Mexico KM# 109
Obverse description: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust facing right. Legend: CAROLUS · IIII · DEI · GRATIA ·, with · 1797 · below the bust. Denticled border.
Reverse description: Crowned shield containing quartered castles and lions, a central fleur-de-lis escutcheon and a pomegranate below, flanked by two ribbon-wrapped pillars. Legend: HISPAN · ET IND · REX · M° · 8R · F · M ·. Pillar-ribbon lettering is only partly legible. Denticled border.
Description and condition notes: Wear affects the portrait, crown and shield. Numerous fine scratches, scattered contact marks and several rim nicks are visible.
