Al Kowsky Posted July 11, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 11, 2022 During the 18th & 19th centuries foreign trade with China was a lucrative business. American & European entrepreneurs were scrambling to get goods from China like: tea, porcelain, silks, & decorative items of all sorts. However there was a big problem doing business with the Chinese, they weren't interested in any goods manufactured in the West 😏! The only thing they would accept in trade for their goods was silver coins, specifically 8 real coins made in Mexico & other Latin American countries 😬. These were the only coins they trusted for honest weight & purity of silver. They reluctantly accepted other silver dollar size coins that were seriously discounted 😖, & these coins were chop marked by merchants after every transaction to prove they weren't plated fakes or low alloy silver. While browsing through my files I stumbled on a very rare Chinese carved white jade Mexican 8 real coin auctioned by Sotheby's for $44,594.00 😮! Why anyone would carve one of these coins from precious white jade has me puzzled 🤔. I'm guessing it was probably made for a very wealthy Chinese merchant after completing a big transaction. The coin also had a finely carved teakwood stand to display it 😊. For comparison a Mexican 8 real coin is pictured below, courtesy of CoinsHome website. Pictured below are 3 silver dollar size coins I sold at CNG Auction 483, with Chinese chop marks. The 3 coins sold as a lot for $826.00. Members from NVMIS FORVMS are welcome to post anything relevant on this thread ☺️. 13 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayAg47 Posted July 11, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 11, 2022 (edited) Mexico mint 8 Reales, I really like the chopmarks! Edited July 11, 2022 by JayAg47 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanxi Posted July 11, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted July 11, 2022 (edited) You like Chopmarks? Here you go Mexico 8 Reales Year: 1748 AR, 22.3g, 40mm Edited July 11, 2022 by shanxi 12 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UkrainiiVityaz Posted July 11, 2022 · Member Share Posted July 11, 2022 Junk box pick up for melt: 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted July 11, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted July 11, 2022 5 minutes ago, UkrainiiVityaz said: Junk box pick up for melt: Wow 😮, great score for melt value ☺️! Many collectors & dealers aren't familiar with the historical significance of these coins 😉. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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