Question for the Spanish New World Collectors

bosox

What is the weight and fineness of the eight reals (silver) and eight escudos (gold) in the 1800 to 1840's era. Hard to get a straight answer from my internet searches, since both weight and fineness varied over the years.

Thanks in advance.

coinnerd

Both coins weighed 27.06g. The composition changed. The silver eight Reales was .917 fine until 1773 when it was lowered to .903. It was lowered again to .896 in 1785 where it stayed until the end of the Spanish era.
The 8 Escudos started at .9170 and was lowered to .9010 then .875. Changes happened at the same times as the 8 R.

Independent Mexico raised the composition of the 8 R back to .903 where it stayed until the 20th century. The 8 E remained at .875 Weight stayed basiclly the same.

bosox

Thanks. I am trying to understand some exchange rates from that period based on bullion content.

bosox

P.S. Is there some good source for how the weights of both changed over time?

coinnerd

I used the Krause catalog Spain Portugal and the New World for the info. I also use The Practical Book of Cobs by Daniel and Frank Sedwick for earlier coinage. Krause does have an error as it doesn't show the first devaluation of the New World coinage after 1728. The original weight of the 8R and 8E from their respective beginning was 27.47g at .931 fine for silver and .917 fine for the gold.

TwoKopeiki

Another thing to note is that tolerances were different for most colonial mints. As a rule of thumb, though, you are looking for a weight between 26.8 and 27.2 grams for pillars and portraits 8 Reales.