Owner Comments:
Mexico 1833 Copper 1/8 Real, Chihuahua Mint KM 318 DB-101a, well-centered on high quality flan; fields are smooth with milk chocolate brown patina and no notable marks. Quite charming.
NGC VF25 BN, RR (Very Rare+). I could not find a recorded sale of another piece anywhere other than this example which did sell at Stephen Album in June 2020 for (550.00 + 104.50) = $654.50
The finest and only piece graded by NGC.
PCGS has graded one example at F15 (Cert Verification #36829953)
The only other reference piece that I have seen online was quite a low grade and unattractive with some corrosion.
This is an example of a copper eighth real from the state of Chihuahua, struck 1833-35. Varieties exist. While the central government of Mexico reserved for itself the right to strike gold and silver, the states were permitted to strike the base metal coinage, a right which they exploited to the utmost. These coins could be minted and issued at a profit, a fact not lost on cash-strapped state governments. As these were to be quickly and cheaply made and forced upon a long-suffering populace, little effort was expended to make them nice; most survivors are poorly struck on badly prepared planchets and heavily worn.
Obverse
Forward facing person with bow, arrow, and quiver.
Lettering: * ESTADO SOBERANO DE CHIHUAHUA ; translation: Sovereign State of Chihuahua
Reverse
Denomination and date within a palm wreath.
Lettering: 1/8
Edge
Herringbone (Note: The herringbone-pattern edge is most often incomplete, especially on thin planchets).
Recorded mintage: Unknown
Krause: $525/G4, $1150/VG8 (2015)