The first coins struck in the New World were made at the initial Mexico City Mint which was located in the home of Spanish conquistador of Mexico Hernán Cortés. Smaller denominations were made initially in 1536 and the larger 4 reales and the extremely rare 8 reales coins were made in 1537 and early 1538. This was 44 years after Columbus landed in the New World in 1492. Cortes conquered Mexico in 1519. This was the early precursor of the U.S. half dollar coin. Daniel Sedgwick does a great job documenting the first coins struck from dies made in the New World in the link here: https://www.sedwickcoins.com/articl…osyjuana.pdf
As always, let me know your thoughts on the coin.
The First 4 Reales Coin Struck in the New World
MEXICO, Colonial. Juana y Carlos. Queen & King of Spain, 1506-1516. AR 4 Reales (32mm, 13.38 g, 7h). Early series. Mexico City mint; Francisco del Rincón, assayer. Struck 1537-1538. Crowned coat-of-arms / Crowned Pillars of Hercules; PLVS in oval lozenge at center. Nesmith 6b/6a (for obv./rev.); Menzell Mx-11; BW 8. Toned, usual double strike. Rare. Among the earliest coinage of the New World and the first 4 Real struck in the hemisphere. Excellent condition for the type with a very clear strike.
On 18 November 1537 a royal decree authorized the minting of 4 and 8 Reales at the Mexico City mint, the earliest instance of these denominations in the New World. Only a handful of trial strikes were made for the 8 Real, making the 4 Real the largest collectable denomination from this issue and the first “half dollar” struck in this hemisphere.One interesting thing about this coin is that the crown above the shield continues past the shield on the right hand side and provides an example of the primitive die cutting methods of the earliest efforts to produce coinage in the New World.
