Royals – 8 reales

Dates known

Philip II

8r ND Mo F (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2048)

This is the only certified example of a "Royal" 8 Reales from 1589-98. However, Sedwick feels that the existence of Philip II Royals has not been 100% proved, as the “known” examples all show details more commensurate with Philip III and either unclear or possibly altered legends.

Philip III

 Under Philip III the first dated "Royals" appear in 1607; prior to this all "Royals" were undated showing legends ending in "DEI GRATIA" or some variant there of. Although these pieces are undated. it is possible through stylistic differences and design changes to arrange these in some semblance of order. The first "Royal" coinage of Philip III exhibit a crown which is attached to the coat of arms without a lower arc (similar to the coinage of Philip II). Shortly thereafter the coinage of Philip III takes on its own style, as the crown becomes detached with a lower arc.

8r ND Mo oD (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2049)

“This highly important issue exhibits some interesting characteristics indicating transitional issues from late Philip II to Philip III. Stylistically it more closely resembles a late issue of Philip II rather than Philip III. The neatly engraved dies mimic the arms of Naples and Sicily, utilize small "8" punches as stops in the legends and the crown are all found on coinage of Philip II; yet the ordinal is very clearly "III". It has been suggested that the Assayer "oD", thought to be Diego de la Torre of the Lima mint, was a guest at the Mexico City mint during the transition between monarchs while on his way back to Spain. Due to the lack of official documentation this is speculative, though it makes sense given that Diego de la Torre was accomplished and recognized for the work he conducted in Lima”.

KM-R44.1 (unpublished variety) 8r ND Mo-F (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2050)

Although undated, the piece i;;ustrated above was likely produced some time around 1600. It shows the reverse die with the crown style of Philip II. Further, the obverse die appears to be a totally unpublished variant, where "GRATIA" is arranged with a hyphenated spelling "GRA*TIA".

KM-R44.1 8r ND Mo F (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 13 January 2015, lot 1248)

KM-R44.3 8r 1607 Mo-F (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 26 August 2022, lot 34432)

1609 8r Mo A (Heritage auction, 6 January 2014, lot 24649)

KM-R44.3 8r 1613/2 Mo-F (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2051)

Philip IV

1667/6 8r Mo G (Heritage auction, 6 January 2014, lot 24651)

This is a posthumous issue as Philip IV died on 17 September 1665.

Charles II

KM-R46 8r 1699/8 Mo-L (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2055)

Philip V

KM-R47 8r 1714 Mo J (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2068)

KM-R47 8r 1723 Mo J (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2069)

Louis I

The 1725 Royals are known in two distinct types: one with single-ornament stops flanking the king’s ordinal I in the legend, and the other with two stops to each side.

KM-R49 8r 1725/3 Mo D (Stack’s Bowers NYINC Auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2072)

Close inspection of the monarch’s name reveals that the obverse die was repurposed and touched up from a 1723 Philip V issue. Though faint, evidence that this monarch's name and ordinal were punched over the previous ruler becomes apparent; "LVDOVICVS/PHILIPPVS" and "I/V". Some later presentation issues of Philip V, after he became ruler again, are the opposite where it is Philip over Louis.

(Sedwick Treasure and World Coin Auction # 16, 6 November 2014, , lot 450)

As usual, parts of the king’s name show punching over the previous PHILIPPVS (clear L/P and O/L on this coin).