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<p>[QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 6587769, member: 110226"][ATTACH=full]1264875[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The Spanish 8 reales, in both its hammered and milled forms, both colonial and republican issues, were a mainstay of commerce from around the late 16th century into the early 20th centuries. This was especially true for trade in Asia, specifically China.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was the Manila galleon, making two annual trips between Acapulco and Manila, that was the central link to trade between Spain and the Far East. Silver flowed east, and finished goods, porcelain, spices, silk and other luxury items returned to Mexico, eventually reaching Europe. The galleons plied their semi-annual journeys from 1665 to 1815.</p><p><br /></p><p>From Manila the silver coins, the vast majority being 8 reales, traveled to China, where they were used as the sine qua non currency of trade, to the virtual exclusion of coinage from other countries. This elevated status continued after the colonial period, well into the republican 8 reales coinage, notably of Mexico, Peru and Bolivia.</p><p><br /></p><p>As objects of commerce, the 8 reales was treated almost as bullion; coins were constantly weighed, cob or milled, to assure that the silver met the specifications of the traders. Coins passing the test were often stamped with chopmarks, seals of approval, so to speak. Other times coins were cut to assure that the silver continued to the coin's core, a practice that goes back to ancient times (as is also true for counterstamps as well).</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's a silver tetradrachm from Athens, a popular trade coin in the Eastern Mediterranean circa 420 BC, with a large test cut:</p><p><br /></p><p>17.0 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1264873[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>An 8 reales would continue to be used in trade, passing from merchant to merchant, usually receiving additional chopmarks or test cuts. It seems that the fact a coin had numerous chopmarks did not deter the addition of one more countermark. This process continued until a coin, in many cases, has its original design elements all but obliterated, as is shown here:</p><p><br /></p><p> 26.4 grams</p><p><br /></p><p> [ATTACH=full]1264874[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Many collectors specialize in chopmarked coins. This specialty is a world all its own, offering a window on the almost innumerable varieties of chopmarks used over the course of the Manila-China trade over the centuries.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, please post your chopmark coins, 8 reales, or anything else you wish.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="robinjojo, post: 6587769, member: 110226"][ATTACH=full]1264875[/ATTACH] The Spanish 8 reales, in both its hammered and milled forms, both colonial and republican issues, were a mainstay of commerce from around the late 16th century into the early 20th centuries. This was especially true for trade in Asia, specifically China. It was the Manila galleon, making two annual trips between Acapulco and Manila, that was the central link to trade between Spain and the Far East. Silver flowed east, and finished goods, porcelain, spices, silk and other luxury items returned to Mexico, eventually reaching Europe. The galleons plied their semi-annual journeys from 1665 to 1815. From Manila the silver coins, the vast majority being 8 reales, traveled to China, where they were used as the sine qua non currency of trade, to the virtual exclusion of coinage from other countries. This elevated status continued after the colonial period, well into the republican 8 reales coinage, notably of Mexico, Peru and Bolivia. As objects of commerce, the 8 reales was treated almost as bullion; coins were constantly weighed, cob or milled, to assure that the silver met the specifications of the traders. Coins passing the test were often stamped with chopmarks, seals of approval, so to speak. Other times coins were cut to assure that the silver continued to the coin's core, a practice that goes back to ancient times (as is also true for counterstamps as well). Here's a silver tetradrachm from Athens, a popular trade coin in the Eastern Mediterranean circa 420 BC, with a large test cut: 17.0 grams [ATTACH=full]1264873[/ATTACH] An 8 reales would continue to be used in trade, passing from merchant to merchant, usually receiving additional chopmarks or test cuts. It seems that the fact a coin had numerous chopmarks did not deter the addition of one more countermark. This process continued until a coin, in many cases, has its original design elements all but obliterated, as is shown here: 26.4 grams [ATTACH=full]1264874[/ATTACH] Many collectors specialize in chopmarked coins. This specialty is a world all its own, offering a window on the almost innumerable varieties of chopmarks used over the course of the Manila-China trade over the centuries. So, please post your chopmark coins, 8 reales, or anything else you wish. Thank you[/QUOTE]
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