Amazing 8s -- Charles III Portrait 8 Reales 1772-1791
1772 Seville

Owner Comments:

My nicest example of the Charles III portrait design from Spain is the first in the series as 1772 was the beginning of the re-coinage that replaced the pillar dollars of the colonial mints and the coat-of-arms design of Spain. The issue of 8 reales from the two mints in Spain would be suspended during several years in the following decade with the likely reason being to prop up the royal coffers by only minting the debased 1 and 2 reales during this period. On the Spanish minted coins, the portrait is different from the colonial design in that the bust is fully draped and without laurel wreath. The obverse is the crowned Spanish arms but without the pillars of Hercules.

From the Heritage World and Ancient Coins Platinum Night Auction in May, 2021