1816, Mexico, Ferdinand VII. Spanish Colonial Silver 8 Reales Coin.
Mint Year: 1816 Denomination: 8 Reales Mint Mark: Mo (Mexico Mint) Reference: 1815-MoJJ, KM-111. Assayers: Joaquin Davila Madrid / Jose Garcia Ansaldo Condtion: Some deposits and spots, otherwise a nice VF. Material: Silver (:903) Weight: 26.93gm Diameter: 39mm
Obverse: Laureate and togate profile bust of Ferdinand VII right. Legend: FERDIN . VII . DEI . GRATIA . 1816 . Translation: "Ferdinand VII by the Grace of God, 1816."
Reverse: Crowned Spanish* arms between the Pillars of Hercules adorned with PLVS VLTRA motto. Legend: .HISPAN[IARUM].ET IND[IARUM].REX.Mo[Mexico in Monogram].8R [EALES] J.J.[assayer] Translation: "King of the Spains and the Indies, Mexico[Mint], 8 reales"
The Spanish dollar (also known as the piece of eight, the real de a ocho, or the eight real coin) is a silver coin, worth eight reales, that was minted in the Spanish Empire after a Spanish currency reform of 1497. It was legal tender in the United States until an Act of the United States Congress discontinued the practice in 1857. Through widespread use in Europe, the Americas and the Far East, it became the first world currency by the late 18th century. Many existing currencies, such as the Canadian dollar, United States dollar and the Chinese yuan, as well as currencies in Latin America and the Philippines peso were initially based on the Spanish dollar and other 8 reales coins.
*Details on the Spanish Arms: arms of Castile and Leon, with Granada in base and an inescutcheon of Anjou.
Ferdinand VII (October 14, 1784 - September 29, 1833) was King of Spain from 1813 to 1833.
The eldest son of Charles IV, king of Spain, and of his wife Maria Louisa of Parma, he was born in the vast palace of El Escorial near Madrid.