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535

Mexico City, Mexico, klippe 8 reales on a round and Royal-like planchet 1733 MF, extremely rare, NGC

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Cobs - Mexico Silver Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Mexico City, Mexico, klippe 8 reales on a round and Royal-like planchet 1733 MF, extremely rare, NGC
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Mexico City, Mexico, klippe 8 reales on a round and Royal-like planchet, 1733 MF, extremely rare, NGC XF details. S-M28; KM-48; Cal-1431. 26.69 grams. The Mexican klippe coinage of 1733 is part of a unique occurrence in Spanish colonial numismatics in which three distinctly different types of coins were issued in the same year. With a design of shield on obverse and cross on reverse, it would be easy to think of these coins as simply an improvement of the previous cob design, or as a transition from cobs to machine-made “pillar dollar” coinage decreed by the king in 1728, but both of those ideas are not quite accurate. While we don’t know for certain why klippes were made, nor why they were made in only the 8 reales and 4 reales denominations, we do know that they began AFTER the pillar dollars started in 1732, and we suspect their purpose came from the documented loss of new minting equipment from Spain off the Cayman Islands (according to a 1987 presentation by C. Hubbard), perhaps a sort of "emergency money." Their manufacture appears to be a hybrid, demonstrably machine-struck, usually in medallic alignment, on hand-cut (“klippe”) planchets using special, new, locally made dies with finer and fancier details, similar to “Royals” (galanos) from previous years. It is worth noting that some examples were struck from these dies (still by press equipment) on traditional “cob” flans (thicker and less even than “klippe” flans), and recently we have learned that at least two or three examples in private hands are known on round "Royal" flans, the present coin being an example. One of these round Royal specimens is known to have a tulip edge (“cordoncillo”) like on the pillar dollars, the extra finish considered enough to call it a veritable "galano," even though the dies are the same. Because these round coins are so rare, it is logical to assume they were specially commissioned for a premium, like the Royals during the cob years. Besides these 1733 klippe examples, the final year for Mexican Royals (galanos) was 1730, a superb specimen of which we had the pleasure of selling in six figures two auctions ago. The special presentation 1733 klippe on a round "Royal" planchet we are offering here has virtually full details, deeply and clearly struck commensurate with machine striking, with rich old toning all over and no problems except for a small and forgivable punchmark at the bottom of the shield, also with traces of die-clashing as usual for the klippe type, all on an impressively large planchet, certainly among the most attractive Mexican shield-type coins in existence. A very important piece to be sure, the first of its kind we have offered, and a great fit for any advanced Mexican or Spanish Colonial trophy collection. NGC #6440071-001. Pedigreed to the Ricardo de Leon Tallavas collection and plated on page 46 of his book Historia, Plata y Dinero: Compromiso Tenaz de Hidalgo (2021).
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