Description
Spanish Empire, Mexico, Ferdinand VI of Spain (1746-1759 AD), Silver 8 Reales (26.83g, 39mm) dated 1749 Mo, ‘Pillar Dollar’ Type, Mexico mint. Obverse: Crowned Shield of Arms of the Kingdom of Spain (1700-1868 AD) flanked by “MF” left and denomination “8” right, legend around, “FERDND· VI· D·G· HISPAN· ET IND· REX”. Reverse: Reverse: Crowned Hemispheres flanked by the crowned pillars of Hercules above ocean floor, date and mintmark below, legend around, “VTRAQUE VNUM”. KM-104. A modest example of a well recognizeable type, about Very Fine, reverse better.
The Spanish silver 8 Reales was one of the denominations chosen during the Australian Proclamation of 1800 by Philip Gidley King, the Governor of New South Wales. It had a high face value of Five Shillings, the same as a British silver Crown, in order to disincentivize the removal of currency outside of the Australian colonies. This coin, although a type struck by Spain and it’s colonial empire, is still considered a piece of Australia’s early history as a growing colony of Great Britain.