Darkside Question: Spanish 2 reales (pistareens)

astrorat · June 14, 2004 9:55AM

I asked this question on the world forum and got a great response, but no recommendation for a source.

Here it is . . . I need to find some nice VF-EF examples of 18th century Spanish 2 reales (pistareens), you know, the kind that circulated in the colonies and our young states. Thanks for any suggestions.

Lane

Conder101 · June 14, 2004 11:22PM

For the most part I don't believe the Spanish pistareen circulated much here. Most of the two Reales that circulated were from the spanish colonial possessions, and they would not be referred to as pistareens. From my understanding the spanish two reale was lighter in weight than the spanish colonial coins The spanish piece would pass at 20 cents while the colonial two reales passed at 25 cents.

astrorat · June 15, 2004 12:00AM

Thanks for the comment! You are correct about the weight and origin, but the pistareens did circulate in the US. The pistareen was the basis for Thomas Jefferson recommending that the first US Mint produce a 1/5 dollar instead of the quarter-dollar (which resulted from Alexander Hamilton's changes to Jefferson's original Mint plan). Pistareens did circulate, somewhat, in the early 19th century as also evidenced by contemporary writings.

Lane

Pistareen · June 15, 2004 5:22AM

A thread about pistareens ... go figure.

Lane -- I usually dig mine out of junkboxes at bigger shows. You might inquire with folks like Dan Sedwick, Paul Brombal, Allen Berman, Karl Stephens, or any one of a number of other world dealers.

John K.

razorface1027 · June 15, 2004 5:26AM

(pistareens

Ain't that some brand of mouthwash?

Cladiator · June 15, 2004 8:15AM

astrorat - you mean like this one?

astrorat · June 15, 2004 9:40AM

Yes, that is to what I am referring . . . albeit a later example (at least according to KM). I just grabbed "America's Foreign Coins" by Schilke and Solomon (a great read for those of you interested in "companion" circulating coins in our young country) and it references an 1826 report from Mint Director Moore indicating that the Spanish 2 reale (pistareen) was reduced in fineness in 1772 (when the bust of Charles II first graced the obverse). No mention of this is found in KM. Man, there has got to be a better book on 18th and 19th century Spanish coins! Okay colonial scholars . . . help!

Lane

Darkside Question: Spanish 2 reales (pistareens)

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