17/08/2026
The 1788 Carolus III Coins 🪙
They are special for several reasons, especially if you mean the Mexican 8 Reales like the coin you showed.
✅️ Final-year issue of Charles III. Charles III ruled Spain from 1759 until his death on December 14, 1788. Thus, 1788 is the last regular year of his reign.
✅️ Historic New Spain coinage. Mexican 8 Reales were struck at the Mexico City Mint, marked Mo, and circulated widely throughout the Spanish Empire.
✅️ Large silver “Carolus dollar.” The 8 Reales weighed about 27.07 g and was approximately 39–40 mm, making it an important international silver trade coin.
✅️ Beautiful portrait/coat-of-arms type. The obverse shows Charles III, while the reverse carries the crowned Spanish arms between the Pillars of Hercules with PLUS VLTRA.
✅️ End of an era. Charles III died in 1788 and was succeeded by Charles IV. Interestingly, some early Charles IV Mexican coins used Charles III's portrait, because new dies apparently had not yet arrived—a fascinating transitional chapter in Spanish colonial coinage.
One important point: 1788 by itself does not automatically make a Carolus III 8 Reales extremely rare. The common Mexican 1788 FM type is documented, so mintmark, assayer, variety, condition, authenticity, and unusual die characteristics are what can make a particular example exceptional.
📷 DATU COINS.
