MEXICO  "PILLAR DOLLAR"  ~ NGC 40 ~ 

  Description 

MEXICO 1745 / 4 PILLAR DOLLAR 8 REALES NGC 40 “SHIPWRECK REYGERSDAHL” UNIQUE” ONLY 1 EVER GRADED!

This MEXICO 1745/4 Mo is literally “THE ONLY ONE EVERY GRADED – UNIQUE!”  It has Excellent Toning, along with a completely undisturbed RIM!  The Strike is as strong as on any Uncirculated piece I’ve ever seen!  The toning really pops the devices on both the front and reverse.  This piece is truly free from any disturbances or distractions.  From the Shipwreck Rygersdahl, which went down in October of 1747 off the coast of Cape Town.

JUST INCREDIBLE  CONDITION WHEN YOU CONSIDER MOST OF THESE COINS WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA FOR CENTURIES!  THESE ARE FASCINATING COINS, OF COURSE DATING BACK TO PRE-AMERICA'S!  ACTUALLY, THIS COIN IS WHERE AMERICA CONTRIVED THE  " $ "   IF YOU LOOK AT THE PILLAR AND HOW THE RIBBON / SCROLL WRAPS AROUND YOU CAN EASILY SEE THE ORIGINAL ORGINS OF THE DOLLAR SIGN.   THE PILLARS (PILLARS OF HERCULES) WHICH READ  PLUS ULTRA (THEY USED V'S FOR U'S) WHICH STANDS FOR  "MORE BEYOND"  MEANING MORE BEYOND THE PILLARS OF HERCULES (OF THE SEA).  THE IMPERIAL CROWN, WHICH RESTS ONTOP OF THE WORLDS (OLD AND NEW), WHICH SITS ONTOP THE SEA.   THE  Mo IS THE MINT MARK (MEXICO)  THE LEGENDS READ:  VTRAQUE VNUM  (WHICH MEANS:  ONE ON BOTH).  THE REVERSE LEGENDS READ:  PHILIP V (1683-1746 & KING 1700-24, AND AGAIN WHEN IN 24 WHEN HIS SON (LOUIS) PASSED AWAY.    HISPN.ET.IND.REX  (MEANS:  KING OF SPAIN AND THE INDIES).  THE INTIALS  MF (ARE THE INITIALS OF THE ASSAYER'S AT THE TIME OF MINTING).  THE SHIELD HAS 3 CROSSES IN THE CENTER, SIGNIFYING THE "HOLY TRINITY" AND A POMEGRANATE IN THE TRIBUTE TO THE SPANISH GRANADA.   ALSO IN THE LEGENDS ARE THE LETTERS  DG  WHICH STANDS FOR  "DEI GRATIA" OR "BY THE GRACE OF GOD"    I RECENTLY SAW ONE OF THESE (LATER DATE OF COURSE) IN AN UNC 62 HOLDER AND IT WAS VERY UNATTRACTIVE IN COMPARISON, WITH DIVITS AND DITCHES IN THE PLANCHET.  THIS PIECE IS FREE FROM ALL DISTRACTIONS AND HAS A BEAUTIFUL TONING REFLECTING IT'S ANTIQUITY.  THIS COIN WILL BE SHIPPED OFF FOR GRADING SHORTLY, UNLESS IT'S SNATCHED UP FIRST!    

THESE LARGE (PIECES OF 8 - REALE COINS) ALSO KNOWN AS SPANISH MILLED DOLLARS; WERE ACTUALLY THE VERY 1ST U.S. DOLLARS AND WERE LEGAL TENDER IN THE U.S. ALL THE WAY UP TO 1857!  THESE COINS WERE ACTUALLY "CUT" INTO 8 PIECES, FOR CHANGE.  THIS WHERE THE SAYING "TWO BITS" ORIGINATED (WORTH 25 CENTS).  THESE COINS WERE USED FOR DAILY COMMERCE LONG BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS WON (AGAINST THE BRITISH) IN 1783. SPAIN ACTUALLY PROVIDED MUCH OF THE CASH (AS AN ALLY) TO HELP FUND THE WAR AND BY THE TIME THE WAR WAS OVER, OWNED APPROX. A MILLION SQUARE MILES OF NORTH AMERICA (KNOWN TODAY AS LOUISIANA TERRITORY), WHICH ALSO WAS THE KEY FOR SHIPPING ACCESS FOR THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS.  KING CHARLES III (SPAIN) CONVERTED THE NEAR WORTHLESS PAPER CURRENCY CIRCULATING AT THAT TIME TO BE REDEEMED FOR SILVER 8 REALES (WHICH WAS SET UP AS THE 1ST SPANISH MINT IN MEXICO FOR THE NEW WORLD).    OF COURSE IN 1800 (ONLY 17 YEARS LATER) KING CHARLES III SOLD THE TERRITORY TO FRANCE (SMALL AMOUNT), WHICH WAS LATER SOLD TO U.S. PRESIDENT JEFFERSON FOR $15 MILLION IN 1803 BY NAPOLE'ON (LOUISIANA PURCHASE - AVERAGED 3 CENTS AN ACRE).