Posted 10/24/2011 8:16 pm
Westwood Arms The coin in question uses the correct design for the particular year. When I first encountered the type (in a picture) I thought it might be a fake - but after examining several with the same design in person - I can see no reason to doubt it is an original design.
Size especially in the minor denominations varies mint to mint and year to year - so the size as specified is within what I consider "normal" range and the weight as stated is also within allowable limits for a 1R worn to this degree (AG3).
For those interested in History of coinage it should be noted that the mints (especially the leasehold mints associated with mines were FORCED to produce a certain percentage of minor coins. The real money (no pun intended) was in the 8Rs made for export. The mint workers were also paid on total output not NUMBERS struck so there was little incentive for anyone to make minor denominations.
The half, one and two reales denominations were produced primarily for and were used in the local market place (in Mexico itself). They were NOT primarily export coins and they were certainly not viewed as bullion issues like the 8R (and to a lesser extent the 4R). They were used in commerce until worn to a degree that would have been unacceptable for trade purposes in a place like Boston or New York. That is a reason so many of the "tiny" coins are common in Good but rare in EF. A similar situation pertains to decimal issues which were used until worn almost beyond recognition.
Size especially in the minor denominations varies mint to mint and year to year - so the size as specified is within what I consider "normal" range and the weight as stated is also within allowable limits for a 1R worn to this degree (AG3).
For those interested in History of coinage it should be noted that the mints (especially the leasehold mints associated with mines were FORCED to produce a certain percentage of minor coins. The real money (no pun intended) was in the 8Rs made for export. The mint workers were also paid on total output not NUMBERS struck so there was little incentive for anyone to make minor denominations.
The half, one and two reales denominations were produced primarily for and were used in the local market place (in Mexico itself). They were NOT primarily export coins and they were certainly not viewed as bullion issues like the 8R (and to a lesser extent the 4R). They were used in commerce until worn to a degree that would have been unacceptable for trade purposes in a place like Boston or New York. That is a reason so many of the "tiny" coins are common in Good but rare in EF. A similar situation pertains to decimal issues which were used until worn almost beyond recognition.
