Mexican Insurgent Silver Appraisal

Mexico 1812 Silver 8 Reales Insurgent Coin (Jose Maria Morelos - SUD)

This is a silver-colored numismatic piece measuring approximately 38-40mm, identified as a Mexican Insurgent coinage from the War of Independence period. The obverse features a right-facing profile bust of Jose Maria Morelos, the revolutionary leader. He is depicted in his iconic headgear and high-collared military attire with decorative embroidery. A notable marking is the 'M' with a small 'o' above it to the left of the bust, signifying the mint mark. The coin is surrounded by a laurel wreath and a beaded border. The material appears to be a silver-alloy, likely cast rather than struck, which was common for the 'SUD' (South) issues minted by insurgent forces under Morelos around 1812-1813. The condition shows significant signs of wear and age, including a matte, pitted surface texture that suggests it may be an older cast replica or a heavily weathered original. There is visible dark oxidation and some surface scratches, particularly across the forehead of the portrait. The edges appear somewhat irregular, consistent with wartime emergency minting techniques. The coin lacks the crispness of modern strikes, indicating a primitive manufacturing process or subsequent degradation. Overall, it captures a significant era of Latin American history, though the specific surface quality warrants professional testing to confirm metal purity and authenticity against known cast-silver originals.