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Mexican Coins – Pattern 8 Reales from Durango Mint in Stacks Bowers Baltimore Sale

balt_pattern_8_reales_obv

MEXICO. Pattern 8 Reales, 1840-DoOMC. NGC AU-53.

By Chris Chatigny, Numismatist & Stack’s Bowers Cataloger ………

Stack’s Bowers November Baltimore is just a few days away, and the excitement is certainly building. For World coins, the November Baltimore sale has historically been a great venue for Latin American coinage, specifically that of Mexico. With nearly 400 lots of Mexican coins and currency included in the upcoming sale, there should be something offered for nearly every collector of this genre. One of the highlights from this group is a scarcely seen pattern from the provincial mint of Durango.

The obverse features the classic Cap and Ray design that evokes the Liberty the Mexican people earned just years before this coin was produced. The Liberty Cap (Phrygian Cap) is a symbol taken from the French Revolution, based on a misrepresentation of the Roman “Pileus,” which was a similarly shaped hat that freed slaves would wear. The lower inscription states: “8 R. A. Do. 1840. O.M. C. Ds. 20 Gs.” These symbols stand for: “8 Reales, Durango (as a mintmark), the date of 1840, the initials of the private French minting firm “Oeschger Mesdach & Co,” and finally the fineness, as 10 Dineros, 20 Granos.”

balt_pattern_8_reales_revThe reverse displays the iconic Mexican eagle and cactus motif, which is still in use as the Official Coat of Arms of Mexico. The resplendent Mexican eagle is perched atop a cactus, holding a writhing snake in its talons and beak. An oak and laurel half-wreath appears below the motif, with the upper inscription “Republica Mexicana” completing the design. This interesting and attractive pattern in silvered bronze from the Durango mint is sure to hold a place of pride in its next collection.

Look for this and other world numismatic rarities in the upcoming Stacks Bowers Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo.

Stack's Bowers
Stack's Bowershttps://stacksbowers.com/
Stack's Bowers Galleries conducts live, internet, and specialized auctions of rare U.S. and world coins and currency and ancient coins, as well as direct sales through retail and wholesale channels. The company's 90-year legacy includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable United States coin and currency collections to ever cross an auction block — The D. Brent Pogue Collection, The John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection, The Joel R. Anderson Collection, The Norweb Collection, The Cardinal Collection, The Sydney F. Martin Collection, and The Battle Born Collection — to name just a few. World coin and currency collections include The Pinnacle Collection, The Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins, The Kroisos Collection, The Alicia and Sidney Belzberg Collection, The Salton Collection, The Wa She Wong Collection, and The Thos. H. Law Collection. The company is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California with galleries in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. Offices are also located in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Hong Kong, Paris, and Vancouver.

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