This Spanish 1755 Half Reales Coin, Mexico City Mint. Small silver coin minted by
Spanish King Ferdinand VI at the Mexico City Mint. The smallest example of
the so-called "Pillar Dollars" or "Spanish Milled Dollars" which
were manufactured using modern techniques beginning in 1732, and which eventually
supplanted the cruder "cobs." A Spanish Half Reales would have been valued
at approximately 3 pence in English currency. Spanish silver coins such as
this were in widespread circulation in the American Colonies, and are
regularly found in American 18th century archaeological excavations.
