Pillar Dollar (Columnario)
The Pillar Dollar is worth between $742 and $3,124 MXN depending on its grade of preservation.
Prices updated: August 2026
Pillar eight reales
Pillar eight reales
The Pillar Dollar is worth between $742 and $3,124 MXN depending on its grade of preservation.
Prices updated: August 2026
How much is the 8 reales Pillar Dollar (Columnario) 1732 worth?
The estimated value of the 8 reales Pillar Dollar (Columnario) ranges from $742 (circulated, XF) up to $3,124 (official blister pack), with $2,258 as a reference for an uncirculated (UNC) piece. The estimate is based on the official mintage and the historical behavior of the family.
The real price depends on four factors: the grade of preservation (a circulated piece is worth the low end of the range; an uncirculated one, or one still in its official blister pack, the high end), the finish (satin vs mirror/proof), the rarity within the series based on the mintage, and the metal spot price on the day of the deal when the piece is silver or gold. Check the value-by-grade table above and compare with equivalent pieces before buying or selling.
Where to buy or sell this coin?
Browse the national directory of numismatic shops or the community forum to trade directly with other collectors.
Description
The columnario (pillar dollar) is the silver 8 reales machine struck at the Mexico City Mint between 1732 and 1772, known internationally as the pillar dollar. Its value in the Mexican market runs from about 3,000 pesos in worn grades up to more than 150,000 pesos for high grade examples or scarce dates. What makes it valuable is the combination of .917 fineness silver, its status as the first Mexican coin with a milled edge, and its enormous historical weight: it was the most widely accepted trade coin in the world in its time. This 1732 piece corresponds to the first year of minting, weighs 26.96 grams and measures 38 millimeters in diameter.
To identify it, the reverse shows the two crowned Pillars of Hercules over the waves of the sea, with two globes between them and the motto PLVS VLTRA on the banners wrapping around the columns. The dies bear the mint mark Mo (Mexico), the initial of the responsible assayer (ensayador), and the year of minting. The price climbs with three factors: the grade of preservation (an XF or higher multiplies the value compared to a circulated example), scarce dates such as 1732 itself and certain intermediate years, and uncommon assayer combinations. A well centered columnario, with full relief on the columns and clean surfaces, reaches the high end of the market.
The columnario is among the most counterfeited colonial pieces, so it is worth verifying exact weight, diameter, an authentic milled edge, and the sharpness of the dies before any purchase. Each catalog entry includes a real image of the piece to compare details. Check the colonial 8 reales to locate your example by year and assayer, review the ranges by grade below, and if you have doubts about authenticity, raise them in the forum where other collectors compare variants.
Historical context
The columnarios are a type of silver coin of the Spanish real denomination that were struck by the Hispanic Monarchy and its territories in America between 1732 and 1773, when they were replaced by the bust coins; they were struck above all at the mints of Mexico, Potosí, and Lima, though also at the other American mints such as Guatemala, Popayán, Bogotá, and Santiago de Chile.
This piece belongs to the era
Colonial / Virreinato →Explore all the Mexican coins of this era, their historical context and how they connect to the monetary system of the period.
Value range of this piece
Market estimate: $742 - $3,124 MXN depending on the grade of preservation (typical range between a circulated and an uncirculated piece).
Frequently asked questions
What is the Columnario worth?
The price varies a lot depending on the state of preservation and current demand. Pieces with a certified grade always fetch more than those with only a personal evaluation, so if your goal is to invest, consider sending the best one in your collection to NGC or PCGS.
How do I know if my Columnario is authentic?
It weighs 26.96 grams and measures 38 mm. If your piece does not have those exact measurements, that tells you something. Compare the relief detail with official Banxico images; counterfeits have flatter relief. For valuable pieces, certified grading from NGC or PCGS is the definitive safeguard.
What is the mintage of the Columnario?
The exact mintage of this issue is not officially documented, which already tells you something about how limited its circulation was. When Banxico does not publish a figure, it is usually because it came out in restricted numismatic sets or because the issue was very brief. On collector forums people speculate about figures, but none are confirmed.
What year was the Columnario issued?
This coin was issued between 1732 and 1773, within the circulation period of its family. Each year has its own variant with slight die differences that the most dedicated collectors know how to distinguish. If your interest is completing the series by year, those details matter; if you just want a representative piece, any year in the range works.
Where can I buy a Columnario?
The real options are numismatic fairs in Mexico City, serious Facebook groups of Mexican collectors, formal numismatic houses in Mexico City (pricier but with expert appraisal), and sometimes at Palmas in the city center. If you are going to spend over 5,000 pesos, the formal house is worth the extra 200 pesos for the appraisal. Mercado Libre can have good prices but it is also where the most counterfeits circulate, so always ask the seller for photos of the edge and the weight.
Where can I buy the Columnario coin?
The safest option is a [verified numismatic shop from the Pesoteca directory](/tiendas), sorted by city and without middleman markup, or the [Pesoteca buy-sell forum](/foro/compra-venta) among collectors. Since it is a precious metal piece, buy only from someone who shows you the coin and its weight: verify before paying. Always check the grade and the photos of the obverse and reverse.
Where can I sell the Columnario coin?
To **sell** the Columnario coin, the safest option is a [numismatic shop from the Pesoteca directory](/tiendas), which appraises it on the spot, or the [buy-sell forum](/foro/compra-venta) among collectors. Photograph the piece (obverse, reverse and edge) and check the price range in this entry before selling. Avoid dumping it on Facebook to the first bidder.
Does the Columnario coin have valuable minting errors?
There are minting **errors** (off center strikes, die rotation, double strikes and variants) that, if genuine and verifiable, can multiply the value of the piece. Careful: most of the 'errors' circulating on social media are post minting damage (dings, corrosion), not factory errors. If you think you have one, post it in the [forum](/foro) so the community can review it.
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Sources
Images for informational and educational purposes, attributed to their original source. Reference values; the real price depends on the grade, the specific variant and demand.
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