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71/2 Reales - Philip IV
| Issuer | Casa de la Moneda de Potosí |
|---|---|
| Year | 1649-1650 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM#C19.2 |
| Obverse description | Crowned quartered shield of the Spanish Royal Arms, displaying the castles of Castile and lions of León in the principal quarters, with the pomegranate of Granada at the base point, struck in the macuquina (cob) style on an irregular flan. The mint mark and assayer initial appear to the left of the shield, with the denomination numeral partially visible in the field. The surrounding legend, largely off-flan as typical of cob coinage, reads a partial PHILIPPVS IV DEI GRATIA. The crowned shield is rendered in the bold, somewhat rough relief characteristic of mid-17th century Potosí cob production. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | PHILIPPVS IIII DEI GRATIA |
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| Additional information |
The 7½ reales denomination is one of the stranger artifacts of colonial Spanish monetary administration — created not by design but by necessity, as Potosí's assayers were caught systematically debasing the silver content of macuquinas circulating across the Atlantic world. The scandal, uncovered around 1649, implicated mint officials at the highest levels and triggered a sweeping royal investigation that ultimately led to executions, dismissals, and a complete reorganization of the Potosí mint. These pieces were struck during the crisis window itself, before corrective measures took hold.
The odd denomination exists because reminted underweight 8 reales pieces couldn't be brought back to full standard without additional silver — the fractional value reflecting the actual recoverable metal.