Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
November 2015 Baltimore Auction - Sess. A-C 5-6 November 2015
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MEXICO. Grano, 1769-MoGo. Charles III (1759-88). NGC VF-25 BN.
KM-PnD1; Cal-type-193#1870. RARE and very interesting. Struck in copper. Most traditional references suggest these types are patterns with the attribution as such being purely speculative. In fact even the attribution of the denomination as Grano for the 1769 issues is purely speculative as this denomination had never seen use in Mexico before and is based purely on the presence of "Go" to the left of the shield. Further, some authors have even suggested these pieces were produced for use in the Philippines. It is very possible that these are actually part of a RARE and short lived issue intended for circulation in Mexico rather than patterns. The first piece of evidence is that no other Spanish Colonial patterns bear the "Mo" mintmark. For instance, the 1729 pattern for the pillar 8 Reales bears the mintmark of Madrid. Also, all other Charles III patterns were submitted directly from Spain and either bearing the Madrid mintmark or a large "N" in place. It is also interesting to note that the Charles III copper series is nearly always found in well circulated condition, often corroded. This is not typical of a coinage that was produced for pattern purposes, but more indicative of a currency intended for circulation. Perhaps the reason for its short lived nature is that Charles III hired Tomas Francisco Prieto to superintend all of the mints in his kingdom, in order to unify the coinage. Prieto designed the new portrait coinage for Charles III and supplied all of the mints with patterns dated 1770 that were produced in Spain. Full denomination sets of uniface patterns were shipped to the new world mints along with new equipment for the production of the new unified bust coinage. The unification of the New World mints seems like a logical reason to do away with a subsidiary copper coinage that was being produced by only one of the mints the previous year. The likeliest answer is that this series is a short lived issue intended for circulation rather than a pattern series, with the piece offered here clearly demonstrating evidence of circulation. Other theories include the possibility of it being a pattern struck at Mexico City and submitted back to Spain for consideration as a circulation issue for the Philippines. The iconography of the Grano series is of particular interest. Although similar motifs exist for earlier medals of Mexico City, I believe this to be the first actual coin to depict a bird perched atop a cactus. Perhaps even more interesting is the presence of three globes at the base. We interpret this as a representation of the Spanish sphere of influence. Hence the three globes represent Spanish Old World, Spanish New World and Spanish Orient (Philippines). NGC VF-25 BN.
From the David O'Harrow Collection.
Estimate: $1500.00- $2000.00
KM-PnD1; Cal-type-193#1870. RARE and very interesting. Struck in copper. Most traditional references suggest these types are patterns with the attribution as such being purely speculative. In fact even the attribution of the denomination as Grano for the 1769 issues is purely speculative as this denomination had never seen use in Mexico before and is based purely on the presence of "Go" to the left of the shield. Further, some authors have even suggested these pieces were produced for use in the Philippines. It is very possible that these are actually part of a RARE and short lived issue intended for circulation in Mexico rather than patterns. The first piece of evidence is that no other Spanish Colonial patterns bear the "Mo" mintmark. For instance, the 1729 pattern for the pillar 8 Reales bears the mintmark of Madrid. Also, all other Charles III patterns were submitted directly from Spain and either bearing the Madrid mintmark or a large "N" in place. It is also interesting to note that the Charles III copper series is nearly always found in well circulated condition, often corroded. This is not typical of a coinage that was produced for pattern purposes, but more indicative of a currency intended for circulation. Perhaps the reason for its short lived nature is that Charles III hired Tomas Francisco Prieto to superintend all of the mints in his kingdom, in order to unify the coinage. Prieto designed the new portrait coinage for Charles III and supplied all of the mints with patterns dated 1770 that were produced in Spain. Full denomination sets of uniface patterns were shipped to the new world mints along with new equipment for the production of the new unified bust coinage. The unification of the New World mints seems like a logical reason to do away with a subsidiary copper coinage that was being produced by only one of the mints the previous year. The likeliest answer is that this series is a short lived issue intended for circulation rather than a pattern series, with the piece offered here clearly demonstrating evidence of circulation. Other theories include the possibility of it being a pattern struck at Mexico City and submitted back to Spain for consideration as a circulation issue for the Philippines. The iconography of the Grano series is of particular interest. Although similar motifs exist for earlier medals of Mexico City, I believe this to be the first actual coin to depict a bird perched atop a cactus. Perhaps even more interesting is the presence of three globes at the base. We interpret this as a representation of the Spanish sphere of influence. Hence the three globes represent Spanish Old World, Spanish New World and Spanish Orient (Philippines). NGC VF-25 BN.
From the David O'Harrow Collection.
Estimate: $1500.00- $2000.00