| This is an example of an two-reales silver coin of the Eighteenth Century. {Note: The obverse appears on the right side; the reverse is on the left.} These images are a bit larger than the actual item's size. Whereas the eight-reales coin measures 39mm, or 1-9/16", in diameter, this two-reales coin measures 27mm, or 1-1/8", in diameter. As noted in the photos above, this coin is dated to the year 1780. The legend on the reverse side reads: "Hispan Et Ind Rex", which translates into: "King of Spain and the [West] Indies". Minted in Lima, Peru (as noted by the letter combination ME on the reverse), the mint mark is not intended to read as "ME", but rather is a monogram made up of the letters "L", "I", "M", "A" and "E", indicating the Lima Mint. This coin also includes the numerals/letters 2R and M and J. The "2R" refers to the denomination: two reales. The letters "M" and "J" are the initials of the names of the assayers at the Lima mint in the 1780s. In this case, the assayers during that time period (1772-1787) were Jose Rodriquez Carasa and Manual Iglesia Abarca, who jointly used the initials "M" and "J". The two reales coin was, like the eight-reales coin, a milled coin, and therefore was accepted in trade and common use throughout the Spanish domains and the English Colonies. As can be seen by comparing this coin with the eight reales coin, the same images appear on the reverse and obverse. |
