MEXICO. Falsa Época. Mexico - Colombia. Overstruck Contemporary Counterfeit 8 Escudos, 1819-Mo JJ. Uncertain Local Mint "Mexico City", Assayer JJ. Ferdinand VII. EXTREMELY FINE DETAILS.26.92 gms. Onza-1549 & 1397 (same dies), 1391 & 1483 (dated 1800, same reverse dies), 1395 (bust of Ferdinand VII dated 1817, same reverse die) & 1396 (same reverse die, possibly same obverse die); cf.Cal-Type 21/24 (for basic type, under Colombia); cf.KM-66 (for basic type, under Colombia). Contemporary counterfeit 8 Escudos in imitation of a 1819-Mo JJ Mexico 8 Escudos of Ferdinand VII, but with Colombian style bust, overstruck on a 1843-UM Popayan, Colombia 16 Pesos. The legends are Obverse: "FERDND.VII.D.G. HISP.ET IND.R. .1819."; Reverse: "IN.UNTROQ.FELIX. AUSPICE.DEO Mo..JJ.". The style and execution of this type appears to have been acceptable clearly passing in circulation, but is significantly different then what was issued from the Mexico City mint at the time. The obverse shows areas of thick die rust that had eaten into the portions of the die, while the reverse remained virtually intact. Several digs near the rim of the obverse and areas of light scratching from long ago where someone attempted to remove the remnants of the undertype are mentioned for accuracy. Overall a decently struck example, though slightly off-center leaving enough detail of the original host to fully identify, with pale gold color in the open fields and atop of the devices while a rich golden-honey patina is in the protected areas and the crevasses. Minor encrustation can be seen amongst the devices and legends lending to it originality. A very neat and interesting issue far more sophisticated than normally encountered certain to add a new level of depth to the next collection it enters.The linking of the dies to several examples of different dates, die progressions and that these types are overstruck on Republic gold issues of lower weight standards is suggestive of enormous output from this unofficial minting facility. Based on the bust style being of Colonial Colombian motif and the fact that the host coin is also of Colombian origins is suggestive of a more local issue to Colombia. At the time of manufacture the lower weight 16 Pesos and other Republican issues then in circulation would have been excellent candidates to overstrike and dump back into circulation making an immediate small profit. The Colombian 16 Pesos and other Republican issues should be the same purity, but are a touch lighter and would have been much easier to re-purpose verse making whole new planchets. From the John Kraljevich Collection of Contemporary Circulating Forgeries.
