Hey Mexican collectors? Help me understand 1st republic vs. 2nd republic silver?

Weiss

Specifically, if the 1st republic was roughly 1824-1835, why do the silver 8 reales KM#377 span from 1824-1897?
Are they just all lumped together and considered "Federal" vs. Spanish colonial?
Also, why was there an issue of pesos (KM#408) from 1869-1873, of the same weight and purity of the 8 reales, while the 8 reales continued to be produced during this period?

PillarDollarCollector

Someone must know the answer here and are willing to help you with your question.

Abuelo

First Republic is reales and escudos coinage. Second, is decimal. That is the basic difference, not the date. The reason why reales are available at the end of the XIX century has to do with foreign trade. Dividing by dates for numismatic reasons is not exact, but if you want a date, the first Republic ends in 1862 with the Empire, and the second Republic starts in 1867 with the fall of the Empire.

pruebas

@Abuelo said:
First Republic is reales and escudos coinage. Second, is decimal. That is the basic difference, not the date. The reason why reales are available at the end of the XIX century has to do with foreign trade. Dividing by dates for numismatic reasons is not exact, but if you want a date, the first Republic ends in 1862 with the Empire, and the second Republic starts in 1867 with the fall of the Empire.

Except there are a few Reales/Escudos coins made up to 1870. They would be considered First Republic I assume.

Abuelo

@pruebas correct. That is why dates do not correlate with the Republics, and the better difference is reales vs decimal.

Weiss

Gracias, @Abuelo and @pruebas !
Thoughts on why there were both 8 reales and pesos made in that 1869-1873 time period?

ELuis

Here is some info - hth:

After the fall of the Second Mexican Empire and the restoration of the Republic, in 1869 the minting of coins of the type known as "balanza" was ordered to replace those of the type called "resplandor". The radiant Phrygian cap that occupied practically the entire obverse of the latter was replaced by a composition in which the presence of a scale representing justice stands out. This type was minted in pieces of one peso, fifty centavos and twenty-five centavos of silver. However, some mints continued to stamp coins in the old design.

The balance weight had the same weight and the same grade as the previous 8 real coin but it was smaller, which was counterproductive for its export since this change in size was not liked in the Far Eastern markets. For this reason, in 1873 its minting was suspended and the coinage of 8 real pieces of the "resplandor" type was resumed.

Weiss

Awesome. Thank you, @ELuis !

Abuelo

@Weiss said:
Gracias, @Abuelo and @pruebas !
Thoughts on why there were both 8 reales and pesos made in that 1869-1873 time period?

As @ELuis said, the 8 reales were accepted for trade whereas the Balanza pesos, no.