1782 Lima Peru 2 Reales Charles III M·I Bust Silver For Sale

Lima mint 1782 with assayers M·I—clean, correct, and exactly how this type should come. No overdate games or repunched drama here, just a straight Peru strike with the full LMAE setup intact. Lima output is consistently a little cruder than Mexico City, and this coin leans into that—worked surfaces, honest wear, and zero attempt to be pretty. This is what circulated examples are supposed to look like when they haven’t been messed with.

By the 1780s, Spanish silver wasn’t regional—it was global money. These 2 reales moved through Pacific trade into Asia, across Spanish America, and anywhere weight and silver content mattered more than who was in charge. Late in the reign of Charles III of Spain, when the system was still efficient and trusted, coins like this were doing real economic work. This wasn’t sitting in a drawer—it was out there getting spent, traded, and worn exactly like this.

• KM number: KM# 78 (type)
• Mint / mintmark: Lima, Peru (LMAE)
• Assayers: M·I
• Mintage: Not recorded.
• Weight / metal: ~6.7 g, .903 silver

Obverse:
Moderate wear with the bust outline clear but flattened in the high points. Facial features are worn smooth, though the profile remains strong. Hair detail is largely blended, with the ribbon still visible but soft. Legends are mostly intact with some weakness near the date. Fields show light circulation marks and even toning.

Reverse:
Crown and shield remain defined, though central detail is worn. Castle and lion elements are visible but lack internal detail. Pillars are bold and complete, providing strong structure to the reverse. Assayers M·I are clear. Legend is largely readable with minor softness. Surfaces show even wear with no distracting damage.

Real Lima silver—worked hard, worn right, and still doing its job.