Certified by NGC as VF Details – Cleaned, this piece combines Spanish Colonial silver with Portuguese monetary history, creating a highly collectible dual-country issue.
Coin Highlights:
- Issuer: Portugal / Mexico
- Date: Counterstamp 1834 on Host Coin dated 1817
- Denomination: 870 Reis Counterstamp on 8 Reales
- Grade: NGC VF Details – Cleaned
- Metal: Silver
- Host Coin: 1817 Mo JJ Mexico 8 Reales
- Type: Counterstamped Coinage
- Mint: Mexico City (Mo)
- Assayer: JJ
- Obverse: Bust of Ferdinand VII with Portuguese 870 Reis counterstamp applied for circulation.
- Reverse: Crowned arms and Pillars of Hercules design from the Mexico 8 Reales host coin.
- Special Note: Official Portuguese counterstamp on a Mexico City 8 Reales issue.
Historical Significance:
During the early 19th century, many countries faced shortages of circulating coinage and relied on counterstamping foreign silver coins to establish legal monetary value. Mexico’s famous 8 Reales served as one of the world’s most trusted trade coins and frequently circulated internationally. Portugal applied these official countermarks to permit circulation within its economy, giving existing silver coinage a new legal identity while preserving intrinsic value.
Ferdinand VII of Spain:
- King of Spain from 1808 and 1813–1833
- Ruled during the turbulent Napoleonic era
- Oversaw a period marked by colonial independence movements
- Spanish American colonies gradually moved toward independence during his reign
Collectibility:
Counterstamped issues remain highly sought after because they tell multiple historical stories within a single coin. Collectors of world crowns, Spanish Colonial coinage, and countermarked issues appreciate the historical significance of these pieces. The pairing of an 1817 Mexico 8 Reales with an official Portuguese 870 Reis counterstamp creates an intriguing and collectible world coin artifact.
Explore a captivating collection of collectible coins from Mexico, spanning from 1500 to the present day, including intriguing revolutionary coins. CVC & Collectables offers a treasure trove of Mexican numismatic history, showcasing the evolution of currency over centuries. Discover these fascinating Mexican coins through this link: CVC & Collectables – Coins of Mexico
