MEXICO. Falsa Época. Sub-Standard Purity Contemporary Counterfeit 8 Escudos, 1805-Mo FM. Uncertain Local Mint "Mexico City", Assayer FM. Charles IIII (IV). CHOICE EXTREMELY FINE/ALMOST UNCIRCULATED.27.05 gms. cf.Onza-1501 (different dies); cf.Cal-Type 8 (for basic type); cf.KM-159 (for basic type). Contemporary counterfeit 8 Escudos struck in imitation of a 1805-Mo TH Mexico 8 Escudos of Charles IIII (IV). The legends are Obverse: "CAROL.IIII.D.G. HISP.ET IND.R. .1805."; Reverse: "IN.UTROQ.FELIX..AUSPICE.DEO .Mo..FM.". The style and execution is pretty crude, the reverse is of particularly poor quality, when compared to legitimate Mexico City products of the time. The obverse legends are actually quite well done, but not in the style of the Mexican mint, while the reverse legends are rather crude. Overall the piece exhibits a decent strike with good definition of the crude details with luster in the protected areas of the legends. The surfaces display an attractive honey-gold patina throughout with area of pale gold color atop of some of the devices. The style and execution, though crude, would have been passable at the time most likely far away from the issuing authority. The date is interesting and appears to be an overdate of 5 over 6, with the style of the 5 being very similar to that used on pillar coinage also known as a "Spanish" 5, only inverted stamped into the die over the 6. From the John Kraljevich Collection of Contemporary Circulating Forgeries.
