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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;giorgio11, post: 2978868, member: 17094&quot;][ATTACH=full]732515[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>The late-series Cap and Rays 8 Reales are more widely seen than earlier issues, of course, and Zacatecas was among the most prolific mints striking this long-running series. Even so, this 1893-Zs FZ 8 Reales in MS66 PCGS is one of two in this highest grade for the issue. More importantly, <i>it is one of only 39 in MS66 (three of them MS66+) for the entire design type, all dates, all mints</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>It doesn&#039;t hurt, either, that it features absolutely stunning toning in two different color palettes on the obverse and reverse. Numerous small die cracks on the obverse indicate that this die was on its last legs, but they were clearly stamping them out hard and fast in 1893 Zacatecas—more than 3.8 million coins, according to Buttrey and Hubbard. Nonetheless, this piece is strongly—I might even go for <i>fully</i>—struck, even though the planchet was a trifle off-center in the die, and features gorgeous, thick luster</p><p><br /></p><p>I was really, really fortunate to acquire these coins, and I paid strong money to get them. As a coin dealer for more than a half-century now (part-time for much of that span), I certainly recognize exceptional quality in an original, newfound hoard of coins on those rare occasions when one finds it, and I was ready and willing to step up to the plate. I am going to enjoy them for a while. Probably not as long as I might like.</p><p><br /></p><p>I was thinking about that cute Edna St. Vincent Millay sonnet, and for collectors and dealers I might change the ending couplet thusly:</p><p><br /></p><p>Whether or not we find what we are seeking </p><p>Is idle, <i>numismatically</i> speaking.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you for the kind compliments and for reading my little essays. Alas, thus ends my little hoard, save for the sole Charles IIII 8 Reales that it on its way to me, thanks to [USER=7539]@RomanTheRussian[/USER].</p><p><br /></p><p>I am sure I will continue learning much more about Spanish colonial and Mexican numismatics (and their history; that&#039;s part of the fun for me, as well), so I may in future be posting a few more coins. Or not.</p><p><br /></p><p>Kind regards,</p><p><br /></p><p>George[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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