1744 Mo-R Mexico 1 Real

Philip V (1700–1746)

Mexico City Mint, New Spain

Country: Spanish Colonial Mexico (New Spain)
Ruler: Philip V of Spain
Denomination: 1 Real
Date: 1744
Mint: Mexico City (Mo)
Assayer: R
Composition: Silver (.917 Fine)
Weight: 3.00 g
Diameter: 19.8 mm
Edge: Plain
Reference: KM 78

Obverse

Crowned Bourbon shield bearing the arms of Castile, León, Granada, and Bourbon-Anjou, surrounded by the royal titulature:

PHILIP • V • D • G • HISPAN • ET IND • REX

Translated:

"Philip V, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies."

The crowned shield reflects the authority of the Bourbon monarchy during a period when Spain controlled vast territories throughout the Americas and beyond.

Reverse

The reverse displays the iconic Pillars of Hercules rising from the sea and flanking two crowned hemispheres representing the Old and New Worlds. Above appears the royal crown, while the surrounding inscription reads:

VTRAQUE VNUM

Translated:

"Both Are One."

This famous design symbolized the unity of Spain's European and American possessions under a single crown. The date 1744 appears below the central design, accompanied by the Mexico City mintmark Mo and assayer initial R.

Historical Background

The pillar coinage introduced during the reign of Philip V is among the most recognizable and influential coin types of the eighteenth century. Struck at the Mexico City Mint using silver from the rich mines of New Spain, these coins circulated throughout Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

The 1 Real denomination served as an everyday commercial coin while maintaining the same silver purity standards as larger denominations. Pillar coinage became a trusted international medium of exchange and helped establish Spanish colonial silver as the dominant trade currency of the era.

The Mexico City Mint was the largest and most productive mint in the Spanish Empire, and its pillar coinage remains highly sought after by collectors of colonial and world coinage.

Grade Assessment

AG-

This example exhibits extensive circulation wear consistent with prolonged commercial use. The major design elements remain identifiable, including the date, mintmark, assayer attribution, shield, pillars, and globes. Significant wear has reduced most interior details, while portions of the legends remain visible. The surfaces display evidence of an old cleaning that has since retoned to a uniform silver-gray appearance.

Despite heavy wear, the coin remains fully attributable and retains strong historical appeal as an authentic survivor of eighteenth-century Spanish colonial commerce.

The Mo-R assayer attribution adds additional interest for specialists in Mexican pillar coinage, as collectors often pursue examples by mint, date, and assayer combinations.

Catalog Description

1744 Mo-R Mexico 1 Real, Philip V, AG-3 Details (Cleaned). Silver pillar-type issue struck at the Mexico City Mint. Features the crowned Bourbon shield and the celebrated Pillars and Globes reverse with VTRAQUE VNUM legend. Heavily circulated with visible date, mintmark, and assayer attribution. A collectible and historically significant example of eighteenth-century Spanish colonial silver coinage.