World Silver - 1542-55 4 Reales Mexico City, Mexico. Late Series NGC MS61

Strong doubling, even tripling, on reverse! NGC population of 14 coins with 7 finer (1 MS63 is Finest).

Charles-Joanna 4 Reales “Late Series.” Early pillars type struck between 1542 and 1555 at the Spanish colonial Mexico City Mint. This colonial issue circulated in Spanish American. It is among the earliest coins to be minted in North America. Superb quality. This piece is well struck on a round flan with complete and readable legends. Attractive and lustrous, with original light gray patina.

The obverse reads, HISPANIARVM ET INDIARVM, crowned pillars over waves with PLV / SVL /TR, and the value ‘4’ (for 4 Reales) below. Reverse reads, CAROLVS ET IOHANNA REGES, with the crowned arms of Castile and Leon, flanked by mintmark (M) and assayer’s initial (A). MB #18; KM #0018; Nesmith-58 type; Cal-131, S-M6. Silver fineness: 0.9310. 12.47 grams.

Joanna of Castile, also known as Joanna the Mad. She was nominally co-monarch with her son Charles I beginning in 1516, but had been declared insane and was confined to the Royal Convent of Santa Clara until her death in 1555. Image: Wikipedia.