(1688) American Plantation Token 1/24 Real

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,325 • AU53 PCGS • 07-2008 • Heritage Auctions

Description

Rated R.4 to R.5 on the rarity scale, this tin 1/24 Real represents the standard issue of the American Plantation Token series — one of the earliest royally authorized coinages intended for circulation in English colonial America. King James II granted a patent to Richard Holt in 1688 for the exclusive right to produce tin tokens for use in the American plantations, with dies engraved by the celebrated John Roettier, Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint in London. The obverse features an equestrian portrait of James II riding horseback, while the reverse displays four crowned shields of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland arranged in a cruciform pattern, reflecting the monarch's territorial claims. Cataloged as W-1135, Newman 2-B, and Breen 78, this is the most commonly encountered die variety within the series, though the softness of tin as a striking medium means that most survivors exhibit extensive wear and surface degradation — the metal's low hardness and susceptibility to tin pest (a crystalline deterioration caused by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures) have ensured that well-preserved specimens are genuinely rare in any grade above Fine. The 1/24 Real denomination — one twenty-fourth of a Spanish silver real — reflects the continued dominance of Spanish monetary standards in colonial commerce, even within English territories. This standard variety provides the most accessible entry point for collectors seeking to own a piece of late 17th-century colonial American monetary history, though even this "common" variety requires patience to locate in attractive condition.

Rarity Notes

R.4 to R.5. Most survivors well-circulated due to softness of tin.

Cross References

W-1135, Newman 2-B, Breen 78