Fantastic strike on this 1897 Zacatecas 8 Reales

TwoKopeiki

Interesting coin. PCGS called it a counterfeit and I bought it from the submitter because i couldn't understand what PCGS saw based on the images. The die work was flawless and even had the Cap stress fractures often seen on the late Zacatecas issues. If anything, the details were too good. Haven't seen a strike like this with all feather details before.

Once i received it, I did the initial measurement: weight 27.24g, diameter 38mm. Weight was a bit on the heavy side, which was concerning. Specific gravity showed a pretty much perfect 10.318 which points to .903 fine silver. Considering it all, i've decided it was an authentic example. The increased weight with the correct diameter indicated a slightly thicker planchet, which, in turn, explains a much better than average strike.

NGC just graded it MS63.

bidask

You are a true numismatist very knowledgeable

TwoKopeiki

@bidask said:
You are a true numismatist very knowledgeable

Thanks Dan. Just picked-up a few good habits from reading and listening to those smarter than me.

bidask

@TwoKopeiki said:

@bidask said:
You are a true numismatist very knowledgeable

Thanks Dan. Just picked-up a few good habits from reading and listening to those smarter than me.

That strike stands out !

Boosibri

Nicely done!

Clio

So this is a coin I bought raw off eBay and subbed to PCGS. You can see my comments on it here:

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1043087/grades-are-in-my-most-recent-pcgs-sub-results#latest

Or to save you a click:

Two of them graded at expectation, Three surpassed expectations and one below expectation. I will share only the good ones here as another user has laid claim to my bag egg and I will let them post if they wish.

And if you look at the cert numbers you can see where it was and PCGS rejected it. Anyway the journey ends here and TwoKopeiki 's hands. He being much more knowledgeable than I knew something was up and had far more insight on the matter. Glad to see it straight graded but I think TwoK would've preferred it fake!

TwoKopeiki

@Clio said:

Glad to see it straight graded but I think TwoK would've preferred it fake!

I do think it would be a way more interesting counterfeit

brg5658

GORGEOUS coin!

Boosibri

Now flip it to @bidask for a massive profit

Abuelo

That is a nice coin and I cannot see why they did not think was real(?).

TwoKopeiki

@Abuelo said:
That is a nice coin and I cannot see why they did not think was real(?).

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

asheland

That's a beauty!

ksammut

Wow! That's sharp. Nice pickup!

Yorkshireman

It is stunning

coinkat

Well struck but yet the image creates a surreal look that I am not accustom to seeing for this mint or the series in general.

I would like to see it in hand to appreciate the basis for the 63 grade

bidask

The above coin is in my set and clearly not as well struck.

@Boosibri said:
Now flip it to @bidask for a massive profit

Boosibri

@bidask said:

The above coin is in my set and clearly not as well struck.

@Boosibri said:
Now flip it to @bidask for a massive profit

Was just a joke, modest profit perhaps