Need help identifing. I believe it is an 1812 Mexican 1\2 reale. It is 14 mm and made of copper. It doesnt look like any pics I've seen in ref. books. There is a letter C on the date side above the monogram. I was hoping someone with alittle more knowledge than me could help. Thanks coswho.
Coswho,this was issued as an emergency coin during the Mexican War of Independence (1810-21).The word 'Sud' is Mexican Spanish for 'South'.It was issued in one of the southern states,possible Oaxaca.The 19th. Century Krause catalogue will tell you. Be careful,there are a lot of forgeries in this coinage issue.This looks like a genuine coin. Aidan.
The size bothers me somewhat. coswho tells us it is about 14 mm - the only thing of that size were the gold issues. The copper issues were much, much larger and so was the silver.
Doug,the method of striking suggests that the emergency mint resorted to striking the coins by the old craft hammered method.That's what I think. Aidan.
But they didn't Aidan. Even the very first issues that Morelos minted were nearly perfect. Yes, they had a very hard time obtaining bullion for the coins - but they absolutely had the machinery and the ability to use it. They did such a good job with the first revolutionist mint that they even took the machinery to Mexico City so it could be copied and used elsewhere. Besides - the method of minting has nothing to do with the size.
The silver issues of 1813 and 14 were 14mm but the 1812 was 16mm. Also the 1812 had the Mo monogram above the date and this one doesn't.
Doug & John,aren't the copper coins (which this one could be) smaller in size than the silver coins? Aidan.
After reading all posts, I decided there's too much chance of it being fake. I traded it back to my friend for a different one. What do you think of this one? Thanks for all your input.
Coswho,that coin is genuine.It is listed as 3 denominations in Krause - 1/4 Real,2 Tlaco,& 2/4 Pilones. It is actually quite scarce. Aidan.
Thanks Aidan. I hoped I did better with this one. And I did get a Krause book, But its old, a 1995. I just posted in the valuation forum asking for a more recent price value from anyone with a newer book.
