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The National Mint and Stamp Factory–Royal Mint (FNMT-RCM) presents in 2025 the second installment of the “Jewels of the Museum” collection , a series that continues the tribute begun in 2023 to the most emblematic pieces preserved in the Mint Museum and which will be issued next Monday, November 17.
This time, the collection is dedicated to coins minted in America , a true reflection of the power, technique and aesthetics of Spanish colonial numismatics.
The series consists of six coins , three silver and three gold , all in Proof quality , with careful production and limited runs , which guarantees their exclusivity and value for collectors and lovers of historical heritage.
The silver jewels: the legendary Eight-real coins
8 Reales 1673 – Charles II, Potosí
This 8-real coin belongs to a specific category of hammered coins known as "galanos." These pieces were carefully minted at the Potosí mint on round blanks, in contrast to the irregularly shaped macuquinos that were in common circulation. Intended to satisfy the preferences of silver merchants, galanos were characterized by their round shape, their complete legends and design elements, and a generally superior production quality.
The obverse displays a quartered shield of Castile and León within a quatrefoil border, surmounted by a crown. To the left appears the mint mark “P” (Potosí), to the right the assayer’s initial “E”, and below, the abbreviated date “673”. The legend reads: CAROLVS·II·DG·HISPANIARVM·REX (Charles II, by the Grace of God, King of Spain).
The reverse features the Pillars of Hercules above waves. Between the pillars appear, from top to bottom and left to right: P (mint mark – Potosí), 8 (denomination in reales), E (assayer's initial – Antonio Ergueta) / PLV– SVL– TRA (the motto Plus Ultra) / E– 73– P. The legend surrounding the composition reads: POTOSI·ANO·1673·EL·PERV.
925 Sterling Silver | 40 mm | 27 g | Face Value: €10 | Maximum Mintage: 4,000
8 Reales 1737 – Philip V, Mexico
Known as the Spanish dollar, the eight-real coin—popularly called the columnario—was the most important currency of its time, widely used throughout the world in both trade and everyday transactions. By Royal Decree of 1728, coinage was introduced using a screw press to produce round and uniform coins, thus replacing the previous hammered coins (macuquinas).
In 1732, the first Mexican pillar coin was minted, so named for its reverse design, which depicts the Pillars of Hercules emerging from the ocean waves and flanking two crowned hemispheres, accompanied by the legend: VTRAQUEVNVM+MO/1737/+MO. Our example dates from 1737.
The obverse displays the royal coat of arms, quartered with the emblems of Castile and León and with the Bourbon escutcheon in the center. On the left appear the assayers' initials “MF” (Manuel de León and Francisco de la Peña y Flores), on the right the denomination “8”, and surrounding the design is the legend: +PHILIP·V·D·G·HISPAN·ET·IND·REX (Philip V, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies).
925 Sterling Silver | 40 mm | 27 g | Face Value: €10 | Maximum Mintage: 4,000
8 Reales 1772 – Charles III, Mexico
One of the first 8-real coins minted after the monetary reform of 1771, which entailed a complete redesign of coin types in both Spain and the Americas.
This reform introduced the monarch's portrait on silver and copper coins and also established distinct designs for so-called provincial silver—coins minted in Spain with lower-grade silver—thus distinguishing them from the so-called national silver or coarse silver, minted in the Americas for foreign trade.
These new types were designed by Tomás Francisco Prieto, founder of the collection of the Museum of the Mint of Spain and General Engraver of the Royal Mint.
The obverse features a laurel-crowned bust of the monarch with a heroic cape, with the legend: CAROLUS·III·– DEI·GRATIA / 1772.» This description corresponds to 8 reales coins minted in the Spanish colony, such as those issued at the Mexico City Mint in 1772.
The reverse shows a crowned and quartered shield of Castile and León flanked by the Pillars of Hercules, a distinctive feature of the aforementioned national silver, with the legend: ·HISPAN·ET IND·REX / ·MO· (Mexico City mint) / 8R / ·M·F· (assayers: Manuel de la Rivera and Francisco Antonio de la Peña).
925 Sterling Silver | 40 mm | 27 g | Face Value: €10 | Maximum Mintage: 4,000
The golden jewels: the brilliance of imperial power
The gold coins in this collection display the denominations of 1, 2, and 8 Escudos. These pieces represent the high-value gold coinage issued by Spanish mints in the Americas and are emblematic of the wealth extracted from the colonies during the imperial period. Each denomination was carefully minted in high-purity gold, some featuring the portrait of the reigning monarch on the obverse and the royal coat of arms on the reverse, along with mint marks, assayer's initials, and inscriptions certifying authenticity and value.
1 Escudo 1780 – Charles III, Mexico
Following the monetary reform of 1771, the types of gold coins were standardized in all American mints.
The obverse features the bust of Charles III, created by Tomás Francisco Prieto, the Engraver General of the Royal Mint of Spain, who also owned the founding collection of the Museum of the Royal Mint of Spain. The bust is shown wearing armor, surrounded by the circular legend: CAROL·III·D·G·-HISP·ET IND·R· (Charles III, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies) / 1780.
The reverse shows the king's coat of arms, surrounded by the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the legend: IN·UTROQ·- FELIX·A·D· (Happy in both worlds under the guidance of God). Below are the assayers' initials FF (Francisco de la Peña and Francisco Arance) and the mint mark ·MO (Mexico City Mint).
Gold 999 | 19mm | 3.375g | Face value: €50 | Maximum circulation: 2,000
2 Escudos 1715 – Felipe V, Lima
Between 1701 and 1747, the Lima mint produced remarkable gold coins by hammering. The escudos, minted in 23-karat gold (a standard that was not reduced until 1728), are widely considered the finest gold coins ever produced by the Spanish Crown in the Americas. The 1715 Lima 2-escudo coin, part of the collection of the Royal Mint Museum of Spain, is an exceptionally valuable example of this series, notable for its outstanding state of preservation, which allows for a clear reading of all its design elements.
The obverse features a quartered shield of Castile and León arranged in the form of a Jerusalem cross, with the legend: +PHILIPPVS·V·DG·HISPANIA (Philip V, by the Grace of God, King of Spain).
The reverse shows the Pillars of Hercules rising above ocean waves, with the following inscriptions between them: L (Lima mint mark)– 2 (denomination)– N (assayer's initial, Joaquín Negrón) / P– V (Philip V)– A / 7– 1– 5 (date, 1715), and the circular legend: ET YNDIARVM REX (and King of the Indies).
Gold 999 | 23mm | 6.75g | Face value: €100 | Maximum print run: 1,000
8 Escudos 1770 – Charles III, Guatemala
The Guatemala City Mint was established in 1731 by Philip V, and until 1773 its coins bore the mint mark “G”. Following the devastating earthquake of 1773, the mint was moved to the newly founded city of Nueva Guatemala, where the mint mark changed to “NG”. This 8-escudo coin is particularly noteworthy as a unique example, known only from its existence in the collection of the Royal Mint Museum of Spain. It is preserved in excellent condition.
The obverse features a bust of Charles III looking to the right, of the type of portrait known as rat face, accompanied by the legend: CAROLUS·III·D·G·– HISP·ET·IND·REX / 1770 (Charles III, by the Grace of God, King of Spain and the Indies).
The reverse shows the royal coat of arms surrounded by the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the legend: ·IN·UTROQ·FELIX– AUSPICE·DEO· (“Happy in both worlds under the guidance of God”) / G– G (Guatemala mint mark).»
Gold 999 | 38mm | 27g | Face value: €400 | Maximum print run: 500
A legacy of art, history, and excellence
The II Series: Jewels of the Museum 2025 is not just a numismatic collection; it is a journey through the history of the Spanish Empire through the gold and silver that united continents and cultures.
Each coin, carefully recreated by the FNMT-RCM, rescues the art, symbolism and splendor of American coinages, perpetuating a legacy of beauty and technical perfection that transcends the centuries.
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