I'm also a coin collector (mostly US coins). I have a few thousand coins that I collected in the 1950s and 1960s. Most are AU or XF condition. Some are very rare and very valuable.

My prize coin was given to me a few years ago. It's a silver peso from Mexico. It is almost uncirculated. It was minted in 1944, the year of my birth in Mexico.

Jose Carlos de Leon

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> Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2009 21:27:56 -0400
> From: makas@nc.rr.com
> To: general@nuestrosranchos.org
> Subject: [Nuestros Ranchos] 8 Real Coins
>
>
> I have some significant happenings in my family in 1793 with my GGGG
> grandparents Justo Puente and Josefa Sanchez being married in Sombrerete
> and also my twin GGG grandfathers both named Jose Tadeo Diaz being born
> in Sauz de Los Marquez. So awhile back I went to the local Coin store
> and had the guy go to the next coin show and purchase me a 1/2 real very
> small silver coin dating 1793 for $30. Unfortunately the date is so worn
> that you can just tell that it is 1793. So I have had him hunting for a
> better coin from that date but his report to me is that that particular
> date is hard to come by BUT there are plenty of excellent condition
> coins in the period from 1794-1799 in the 8 Real denomination minted in
> Mexico.
>
> I have no financial interest in this just though I'd let folks know that
> for between $80-$125 range you can get an 8 Real Coin in good shape in
> the 1794-1799 time period minted in Mexico. If you have a local coin
> dealer you trust have him/her look into it or let me know and I'll put
> you in touch with my coin dealer who says he can get them.
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_dollar
>
> joseph
>
> ======================
>
> Joseph Puentes
> NoMeat@h2opodcast.com
> http://h2opodcast.com/vsse.html (Vegan Environmental Solutions Podcast)
> http://h2opodcast.com (Environmental Podcast)
> http://h2opodcast.blogspot.com (Blog for above)
> http://PleaseListenToYourMom.com (Women's Peace Podcast)
> http://NuestraFamiliaUnida.com (Latin American History Podcast)
> http://nuestrosranchos.org (Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes
> Genealogy)

Coins from Colonial Mexico circulated widely in the English colonies in North America, and in fact were common in the early days of the United States. In fact, they circulated widely throughout the world.

The 8 reales silver coin is the size of the old silver dollars, and when in one of the better grades is quite striking! This coin is also called the Spanish Milled Dollar, or a Piece of Eight. Thomas Jefferson recommended to the Continental Congress in 1776 that it be adopted as the official currency of the new United States.

The 8 reales coin was divided into 8 parts or bits. Two bits was equal to to 25 cents in the US (remember the old rhyme ... 2 bits, 4 bits, 6 bits, a dollar?).

The Mexico city mint mark is an M with a little circle over it. These same coins were also minted in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala and Peru; these will be identified by different mint marks.

Earlier coins exist from the 1500s; these are irregular in shape and are referred to as "cobs." These are more expensive, and especially so when in good condition, and when they have a date on them.

There are also gold coins from the colonial period; these are quite expensive.

George Fulton
Pleasanton, CA