Description
Scotland, Lanarkshire, New Lanark Mills, Silver 5 Shillings (26.52g, 40mm), circa 1800-1820 AD, countermarked upon a Spanish Silver 8 Reales of King Charles IV, 1799 Mo FM, struck at Mexico City. Obverse: Large countermark of the denomination at the centre surrounded by light ring countermark bearing the legend “PAYABLE AT LANARK MILLS” over the laureate, draped and cuirassed Bust of King Charles IV facing to the left, host date below, host coin legend surrounds, “·CAROLUS· IIII· DEI· GRATIA·”. Reverse: Royal Coat of Arms of Spain, Pillars of Hercules type (1700-1868), legend surrounds, “· HISPAN· ET IND· REX· Mo· 8 R· F·M·”. KM-CC66. Although holed over “I” of “DEI”, a nice example with dark toning, seldom seen for available for commerce, semi scarce as such, Countermark Very Fine, host coin near Very Fine.
For a brief history of the New Lanark cotton mills, please read our Colonial Gazette Article.