(1812) Silver Merchant Countermark Brunk S-918, "STERLING" on Mexico 4 Reales

Coin Details

Auction Record

$552 VF25 11-17-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

A Mexico City Mint 1812 4 Reales bearing the countermark "STERLING," catalogued as Brunk S-918. The "STERLING" countermark was applied by a silversmith or silver merchant to assert the coin's silver purity and warrant its acceptance in silver-by-weight transactions or trade. Spanish colonial silver coinage circulated extensively in the early United States, where domestic coinage was insufficient to meet the demands of commerce; countermarks on such pieces document their active use in American trade networks. The host coin is a Mexico City 1812 4 Reales struck at the Mo (Mexico City) Mint, approximately 26–27mm in diameter, in 0.903 fine silver per Spanish colonial standards. The 4 Reales is the half-peso denomination, among the most commonly circulated Spanish colonial coins in early American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The "STERLING" countermark is an unusual silver-quality guarantee mark reflecting the assay practices of early American silver merchants. Brunk catalogues several "STERLING" countermark types; the S-918 variety applied to Mexican colonial coinage is an uncommon specimen. Spanish colonial coinage with American merchant countermarks is collected at the intersection of colonial and early American numismatics.

Cross References

Brunk S-918