Amazing 8s -- Charles III Portrait 8 Reales 1772-1791
1787 Santiago

Owner Comments:

One of my most scarce 8 reales is this one from the Santiago mint with a recorded mintage of just 183,209 (Elizondo). The mint, in the capital of the Captaincy General of Chile, was first authorized as a private endeavor in 1743. It minted what the region mined which was mainly gold. Charles III brought the mint under the crown in 1770. At the time this coin was produced the mint had moved from its original building to a former Jesuit school, Colegio Máximo de San Miguel, however construction of the new mint facility, Palacio de la Moneda, had already begun. The elaborate building would later become the seat of government which it still is today.

Purchased from World Numismatics (formerly known as Mexican Coin Company) in January of 2016. Pop 3/0. ex Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles Sale 42, September 2007.