Mexican coins used in the Caribbean
Barbados
Danish West Indies
Dominica
Issued by decree of 12 September 1798.
KM-3.3 11 Bits (8 Shilling 3 Pence – Dollar) ND (1798) (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 13 January 2023, lot 21377)
This countermark, centrally pierced from the obverse with 15 crenations, was applied to a 8r 1798 Mo FM of Charles IIII (KM-109).
The Holey Dollar issues of Dominica and Tobago appear to be quite similar, but in fact are distinctly different. The most significant difference is the side each coin was pierced from; Dominica from the reverse while those of Tobago were pierced from the obverse.
Guadeloupe
Issued by proclamation of 9 May 1811
In accordance with other British islands, the removed central segment and dollar were to circulate as separate coins. When authorized the amount to be cut and stamped was 10,000 Spanish dollars with the removed segments being 1/9 of the total weight. The central crenated cutout segments were given a declared value of 20 Sous (1 Shilling) and were stamped with a radiant "G".
When the colony returned to French rule in 1816, steps were taken to remove the cut monies of the previous administration. It was not until May of the following year that the cut segments were demonetized. However, some of the dollars continued to circulate until 1858 before they were finally withdrawn.
KM-25 9 Livres (9 Shillings, ND (1811) (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 13 January 2024, lot 53274)
Countermark: Raised crowned "G" within shaped indent applied to obverse at 5 o'clock and reverse at 1 o'clock, the central plug removed from the reverse by four individual cuts with crenellated edges. Applied to an 8r 1805 Mo TH of Charles IV (KM-109).
KM-25 9 Livres (9 Shillings, ND (1811) (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 17 January 2025, lot 30217)
Similar countermarks applied to an 8r 1806 Mo of Charles IV (KM-109).
KM-26 9 Livres (9 Shillings, ND (1811) (Stack’s Bowers auction, 17 August 2024, lot 44390)
Applied to an 8r 1810 Mo TH of Charles IV (KM-109).
Jamaica
Martinique
Martinique is located in the Lesser Antilles between Dominica to the north and Saint Lucia to the south. France took possession on 25 June 1635, and has maintained possession since that time except for three short periods of British occupation during the Napoleonic Wars (13 Feb 1762 – 1763, 22 May 1794 - Sep 1802, and 21 Feb 1809 - 8 Oct 1814).
During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Mexican silver coins, specifically 8 Reales, circulated extensively in Martinique. Because of coin shortages, these foreign and colonial coins were frequently adapted for local use. Mexican and Spanish colonial silver coins were cut into segments (such as bits or escalins) or stamped with local countermarks (such as the ST MARTIN or regional French island countermarks) to revalue and legalize them for circulation in Martinique and neighbouring islands.
Authorized by local ordinance of 1 September 1797
KM-26 3 Escalins (Moco) ND (1797) (Stack’s Bowers auction, 15 August 2023, lot 51275)
Cut quarter of a 8r 1793 Mo FM of Charles IV (KM-109) with crenated edges.
Montserrat
Montserrat is one of six islands that constitute the Leeward Islands, with nearly twice that number forming the Windward Islands group to their south. The islands were valuable stopping points in the sea journey between South America and Europe, and the nations in conflict in Europe brought their conflicts to the islands.
Each of the island groups at one time or another during the 17th, 18th and into the early 19th centuries, used necessity money, often in the form of cut and countermarked versions of the silver, gold and other metallic coins of whichever major nation controlled a particular island at a particular time.
KM-6.2 6 Dogs (9 Pence - Bitt - 1/8 Dollar) ND (ca. 1785-1801) (Stack’s Bowers auction, 26 August 2025, lot 41459)
A countermark "M" with square indent applied to half of a 2r 1782Mo FF Mexico of Charles III (KM-88.2).
KM-12 12 Dogs (2 Bits - 1/4 Dollar, ND (ca. 1785-1801) (Stack’s Bowers auction, 25 February 2021, lot 74206)
This countermark of a couped cross within shaped indent is applied a 2r 1780 Mo FF of Charles III.
Puerto Rico
St. Croix
St. Vincent
Tobago
This very rare and seldom encountered holey dollar is not to be confused with the much more common Dominica Dollar issued in September 1798. Though similar in the way they were mutilated, plug removal by piercing the center of the coin consisting of 14 or 15 crenation's, they are distinctly different. The key identifying factor between these two West Indian issues is that the Tobago pieces were pierced from the obverse while those of Dominica were done so from the reverse.
It is now speculated that there are two distinct types from Tobago; Type I, crude elongated and slanted crenations and Type II, with neat nearly vertical crenations.
KM-12 11 Bits (8 Shilling 3 Pence - Dollar), ND (ca. 1798) (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 13 January 2023, lot 21468)
Countermark applied to a 8r 1797 Mo FM of Charles IV (KM-109).
Trinidad
Authorization for counterstamping was given on 11 June 1811 and the quantity of dollars to be cut was not to exceed 25,000. The central cutout segments were given a declared value of 1 Bitt (1 Shilling) and were stamped with the initial "T" for the name of the colony.
These central cutout Bitts were ordered to be withdrawn from circulation on 1 December 1823.
By order of proclamation issued by Sir Ralph Woodford on 14 September 1814 the cut dollars were to continue to circulate by tale at 9 Shillings until ordered to pass by weight.
The cut dollars and the previous cut minors of the proclamation of 9 February 1804 were never officially withdrawn. Some of the cut dollar continued to circulate as late as 1860 at a rate of 3 Shillings 9 Pence (90 Cents).
KM-A13 9 Bitts (9 Shillings), ND (1811 (Stack’s Bowers NYINC auction, 15 January 2022, lot 2431)
Issued by local authority of 11 June 1811. Octagonal shaped cut from the obverse on 8r 1794 Mo FM Mexico of Charles IV (KM-109).
Additional "T" punches have been applied to the obverse and reverse, struck multiple times. There are no known official documents that pertain to these additional markings on dollars. These punches seem to be in imitation of the "T" punch found on the central plugs, but do not match in style of application.
KM-A14.1 9 Shillings, ND (1811) (Stack’s Bowers ANA auction, 20 August 2021, lot 41627)
Struck upon a host 8r 1790 Mo FM (KM-108).