12 Days of Christmas; The Legendary ‘Pieces of Eight’ Spanish Pillar Dollar.

It took me some time but we’re finally to my 12 Days of Christmas wish list where some wishes came true by the generosity of those close to me. It was a painful Christmas without Deb, yet a memorable one too as friends and family stepped up to fill the gap to help make this a Merry Christmas. To cherish the old memories and to create new ones.

Day 12, The ‘Pieces of Eight.’My Final chapter of this holiday initiative by @silverd510, and all in good time.

“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.

I had a set price in mind when I asked Ben of HK Colonial coins on what I wanted and I am not looking for an extraordinarily rare variety. Just a genuine ‘Pieces of Eight’ and, because of my Asian side, it had to have some nice Chop marks too.

By the end of November an opportunity came when Ben notified me on Discord to come get a peek of the coin he just acquired for sale. It fit the profile to what I was looking for. The Inscription and date is clear and practically unobstructed on both the reverse and obverse.

I accepted the coin and completed the deal. After 40+ worrisome days of waiting the coin finally arrived, well late into the New Year but more important is that it is safe in my hands. What a relief and what a silver coin!

1765 Colonial Mexico Carlos III 8 Reales Obverse; Crowned Coat of Arms. Inscription CAROLVS · III · D · G · HISPAN · ET IND · REX, FM, 8 Translation; Carlos the third by the grace of God King of Spain and the Indies, FM, 8 Diameter 39mm, Thickness 2.6mm Weight 27.05g, 0.917 Silver

‘I’ll have my dues and not a farthing over. Hold Mrs. Crossley’s bag.’ And she began to count over the amount of the Captain’s score from the sailor’s bag into the one I was holding.
It was a long, difficult business for the coins were of all countries and sizes- doubloons, louis-d ors, and guineas, and pieces of eight, and I know not what besides, all shaken together at random.
~Treasure Island, Chapter 3; The Sea Chest.

The Crowned Arms has most of it’s detail having seen some circulation enough for me to consider it a bit above a Very Fine grade. The chops were generally light, interesting, and diverse in variety. The only detracting chop is an inverse pyramid over the Leon icon in the top right of the shield.

One of these days I will try to find out if any of these Chops are attributable to any known business entities, there are resources available.

The edge has ‘Reeding’ making the 8 Reales coin easier to hold and helps eliminate the problem of those who tend to file off silver from the edges before slipping them back into circulation. Weight compromised coins are more easily recognized and culled out of circulation to be melted back down and re-minted.

1765 Colonial Mexico Carlos III 8 Reales Edge; ‘reeding’ Textured. Reference KM#105

With my arms before me I walked steadily in. I should lie down in my own place (I thought, with a silent chuckle) and enjoy their faces when they found me in the morning.
My foot struck something yielding – it was a sleeper’s leg; and he turned and groaned, but without waking.
And then, all of a sudden, a shrill voice broke forth out of the darkness:
‘Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!’ and so forth, without pause or change like the clacking of a tiny mill.
Silver’s green parrot, Captain Flint! It was she whom I had heard pecking at the piece of bark; it was she keeping better watch than any human being, who thus announced my arrival with her worrisome refrain.
~Treasure Island, Chapter 27 ‘Pieces of Eight’

The trademark Crowned Pillars also have most of their detail with most of the Motto still legible and remain easily distinguishable. An outline of crowned hemispheres can still be seen despite the heavier chop marking in that area.

This collection of Chops appear to be a more sophistication selection, including two beautiful incuse styled chops can be easily identified and could be attributed to an official governmental entity. Again, I wish I learned Chinese!

I will have to leave that for another time.

1765 Colonial Mexico Carlos III 8 Reales Reverse; Crowned Hemispheres between crowned pillars, upon the waves. Inscription; VTRAQUE VNUM, PLUS VLTR, Mo, 1765, Mo. Translation; Both as One, Further Beyond.

From a scene from Black sails.
Jack Rackhem and Charles Vane in the ship’s hold filled with treasure.1703? But the new minting technology was not producing coins until 1732.

With the introduction of Coining mills installed in 1732 the Colonial mints Spanish currency achieved the consistent and uniform quality that made the Spanish 8 Reales as the first truly international currency.

Imagine Alexander Hamilton holding this coin up before Congress in 1792 making his case for their young country to mint their coinage. Then enshrine government to having sole authority to mint sound money, as an important article under the Constitution.

Since then many other countries minted their coin with the same specifications; Chinese Yuan, British Trade Dollar, French Indochina Piastre, Japanese Yen, Korean Won, Malaysian Ringgit, Mexican silver Peso, & the Philippine Peso.

Thank you Ben, this coin has exceeded my expectations and the cash well spent. I love this legendary coin. And thank you Deb, for letting me buy this special coin to remember you by.🤗

12 Days of Christmas; 6 Remain listed, 6 beautifully fulfilled.

Until next Christmas, Have a happy and prosperous New Year!

The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!

12 Days of Christmas Wish list posts;

Day 1; 2013 $50 Canada HMS Shannon & The USS Chesapeake
Day 2; 2017 2 oz. Davy Jones Locker silver round, Privateer Series.
Day 3; 2013 $1 Tuvalu The Dementer, Famous Ships that never sailed series.
Day 4; 2015 Finding Silverbug Island Community Round.
Day 5; St. Bee’s Silver Throwing Star.
Day 6; 2022 $5 Niue Grand Shipwrecks of the World; San Jose.

12 Days of Christmas Wish List Fulfilled posts;

Day 7; A Gift from my Mentor Gold Spartan’s Silver Pirate ship V2.
Day 8; A gift from my Secret Santa Predatum in Mundo.
Day 9; A gift from @enginewitty 2022 Samoa 2 Tala Princess of the seas.
Day 10; A gift from my late Roommate Deb 16xx Colonial Mexico Philip IV 8 Reales Cob.
Day 11; A gift from Nyssacat; 1622 Type 2 Atocha Fantasy 8 Reales.
Day 12; The last gift from Deb; 1765 ‘Pieces of Eight.’ Pillar Dollar.

References

Numista; 1765 8 Reales Carlos III.
Wiki; Spanish Pillar Dollar.
Numista; 1732 Pieces of Eight Philip V.

My own pictures shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞
Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe.
3.5 Troy oz. 3D Pirate ship by the Gold Spartan.
Silversaver’s 2023 Hive Silver Round, to order this 2023 Hive round.
The GOLDEN AGE of PIRATES map poster from Bella Terra Publishing LLC, bellaterramaps.com

"I’m just a gal in black, not a bloody Financial Advisor!"