This week, we feature two important coins from The David Gray Collection, silver coins from the MexicoCity mint featuring the MX rather than Mo mintmark. This mintmark was only used on the milled silver coins of 1733, and The David Gray Collection features a 4 Reales (lot 459), and a very rare overdate 8 Reales (lot 481). Both of these important coins are needed for a full date and mintmark set of Mexican coins.
Lot 459 is a boldly struck and nicely toned example of the very rare 1733-MXMF 4 Reales. Graded EF-45 by NGC, this coin is very pleasing and would be hard to improve upon, so anyone interested in bidding, should review the coin in hand and formulate a bidding strategy.
Lot 481 is a the Extremely Rare overdate 8 Reales, which according to our research is Rarity-7, with an estimated 5-10 examples known. The 1732-MX die is not known to have struck any coins. It is very likely that the die was prepared, and then re-punched in 1733 to strike 8 Reales. Aside from being an extremely rare overdate variety, our research notes (per Kent Ponterio in the introductory article in the catalog) approximately 35 to 80 examples across three different major varieties listed by Freeman & Craig and Elizondo. This makes it a very difficult task to complete a date and mintmark set of Pillar 8 Reales with so few of this major type available to specialists. This attractively toned example, graded VF-35 by NGC is cataloged as “wholesome…showing light to moderate wear…” It is an important coin for a specialist and we expect spirited bidding.
Both of these coins are from The David Gray Collection, a specialized assemblage of these wonderful early Mexican silver coins. His careful and studious dedication to this series has allowed for a better understanding of the coinage of 1732-34, and we appreciate his consigning his coins for the next generation to enjoy. We hope to see you in person at the Baltimore convention, but if you cannot attend in person, be sure to contact us so we can arrange a mail bid, phone bid, or to assist you in bidding live through our Stack’s Bowers Galleries internet bidding platform. We are also currently accepting consignments for our New York International Numismatic Convention Sale in January, so be sure to contact a consignment director for more information.
