$66.01 / troy oz
Spot as of Sep 6, 2026 10:05 PM · $1 move in silver changes this coin by $0.79
PhotoNot on file yet — specs below are mint weight.
Melt / coin$51.88
Silver spot$66.01
ASW0.78590 oz
Gross weight27.070 g
Fineness90.3%
Gross troy oz0.8703
Coins / oz1.27
What this coin is
The Republic 8 reales (OCHO REALES, cap-and-rays) is the classic “Mexican dollar.” 27.07 g, .903 fine, about 0.7859 oz ASW. Ancestor of the US dollar’s silver content.
What is written on the coin
OCHO REALES, LIBERTAD cap and rays, REPUBLICA MEXICANA, eagle. Chopmarks appear on pieces that circulated in China.
Metal content (the melt spec)
Mint specification: 27.0700 grams at 90.3% fine, which is 0.78590 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Formula: grams × fineness ÷ 31.1034768. Date and mintmark do not change that number. Melt today is $51.88 per coin at $66.01 silver.
Mintage
Struck at Mexico City and branch mints 1820s–1897. Totals run in the tens of millions across many dates and mints. Individual dates range from very common to scarce. Melt is the floor for worn common mints; China-trade and rare mintmarks are collector coins.
A little history
The 8 reales was the trade dollar of the Americas and much of Asia. The US dollar was specified to match this coin’s silver. Cap-and-rays replaced colonial pillar and portrait types after independence.
How to tell you have this type
OCHO REALES, not UN PESO. Caballito and later pesos say UN PESO. Same size class as a US silver dollar.
Date and mintmark do not change the metal on this page. Collector value is a different market — see Sold Comps for sold prices.
Before you sell
Usually near melt
If the coin is damaged or heavily worn, melt is a fair starting number. If it looks special, check collector solds before you sell.
Melt is the metal floor. For auction and eBay solds on the same type, see Sold Comps. We list 355 melt values; collector premiums are a different market.
Quick amounts
Using $66.01 silver.
| You have | Pure oz | Melt |
|---|---|---|
| 1 coin | 0.7859 | $51.88 |
| 10 coins | 7.8590 | $518.77 |
| 20 coins | 15.7180 | $1,037.55 |
Silver chart
Where silver has been.
Melt alert
Email me if this coin’s melt crosses a number I set.
Questions people ask
How much pure silver is in a Mexico 8 reales (OCHO REALES)?
Mint spec is 27.070 grams at 90.3% fine, which is 0.78590 troy oz of pure silver (ASW). Date and mintmark do not change that.
What is a Mexico 8 reales (OCHO REALES) worth in melt today?
At silver spot of $66.01 per troy oz, one coin’s melt is $51.88. Multiply by how many you have. A rare date or a nice grade can sell for more than melt.
How many Mexico 8 reales (OCHO REALES)s equal one ounce of silver?
About 1.27 coins equal 1.00 troy oz of pure silver at mint weight.
Does mintmark change the melt value?
No. Mintmark and date do not change the metal for this composition. A Mexico City (Mo) piece and another mint of the same spec have the same melt. Collector premiums still follow date, mint, and grade.
Is melt what I should sell this Mexico 8 reales (OCHO REALES) for?
Most common circulated examples trade close to the metal. Better grade, proofs, and scarce dates are the exceptions. If the coin is damaged or heavily worn, melt is a fair starting number. If it looks special, check collector solds before you sell.
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