Uncertain locality, a MEXICO, Charles IIII, 8 Réales, 1794fm, Mexico City, obv. countermarked cbco in rectangle, 26.82g (Manville 50, this coin listed; KM. CCA39.2, this coin illustrated; Brunk p.6). Coin and countermark very fine and toned, very rare £600-800

Provenance: Bt M.L. Teller March 1991.

At least two other examples of this countermark are known (British Museum, on a Lima 8 réales, 1790, with a provenance back to Cokayne, 1946, and whereabouts currently unknown, on a Mexico City 8 réales, 1793, with a provenance back to Peltzer, 1927). Although previous informed thinking has suggested that the issuer might be Carrick Brown & Co, a Glasgow conglomerate whose interests encompassed banking and muslin manufacture, attribution to Scotland is by no means certain