Philip V Real

One of the most intriguing aspects of the Philip V real is how it adapted the Habsburg-era design to feature the first Bourbon king's profile, often with a telltale laurel wreath that signaled Spain's new dynasty amid political upheaval.

These silver coins, denominated as one real, were struck from 1700 to 1746 across Spanish mints in Seville, Madrid, and the colonies. Planchets came from refined Mexican silver, a resource that kept the wheels of empire turning even as wars disrupted supply lines. The obverse typically showed Philip V's bust, while the reverse bore the Spanish coat of arms, though variations depended on the mint.

Exact mintage figures are murky; records from some years vanished in bureaucratic mishaps or fires, so we rely on surviving examples. I've handled dozens over the years, and let me tell you, the so-called "cursed" ones are just coins that saw hard use.

Counterfeits popped up frequently, especially in the Americas, which is why some bear test marks from assayers.