Gifts from a friend... how would you preserve?

NeophyteNumismatist

At last night's local coin club meeting, as friend gave me two colonial coins as a "thank you" for helping him get a coin he needed for his set. Both of them are very cool.

One is a 1777 8 Reales from Mexico City (MO). It has lots of interesting chop marks.

The other is a 1775 Britannia. It has a lot of meat on the coin, but there is some old, dark verdigris that I am not sure what to do with. It appears to be stable but does anyone have suggestions on it?

Also, any help in attributing varieties would be great. These are my only two colonial coins, so I really don't know much at all.

Thanks in advance (and sorry about the knee hair in the background of the Reales )

SaorAlba

The British halfpenny is actually a contemporary counterfeit - notice the crude "Britannia" on the reverse. The 8 reales travelled across the Pacific a few times but saw a long service in Asia.

NeophyteNumismatist

@SaorAlba said:
The British halfpenny is actually a contemporary counterfeit - notice the crude "Britannia" on the reverse.

Woah - that's fun! Is it a better known contemporary counterfeit? Any idea of where it was made?

coinbuf

I would put them both in a 2X2 or Kointain and enjoy them for what they are.

MsMorrisine

i've never dealt with a piece like the halfpenny

the 8 reales is ok as is

lermish

I like this chop in relief. Neat coin.

sellitstore

The British Halfpenny counterfeits were made in both England and the colonies. Newburgh, NY was the site of Machin's Mills who struck coinage for the colonies under contract and counterfeit British Halfpennies. Bob Vlack cataloged the Machins Mills counterfeits, so it may be possible to identify the specific dies, but this is beyond my pay grade.

291fifth

So far as the verdigris on the halfpenny ... just leave it as it is. It does not look overly bad and any attempt to "improve" it would probably make it look worse.

NeophyteNumismatist

@sellitstore said:
Bob Vlack cataloged the Machins Mills counterfeits, so it may be possible to identify the specific dies, but this is beyond my pay grade.

Does anyone know if Bob participates on the forums? Does anyone have his contact information? I would be really interested to understand what my little "halfpenny" is. Very cool!

PerryHall

The PCGS Coin Facts site has a section on Machin's Mills coins which are slabbed by PCGS. You may find one that matches your coin.

NeophyteNumismatist

PCGS only shows one variety of the Machins Mills halfpenny for the 1775 date. No match

jesbroken

As they are from a friend, I would have them both entombed. Doesn't really matter who, but encased for protection.
Jus' sayin'.
Jim

NeophyteNumismatist

I just may do that. I actually really like them both. I wish I could understand which halfpenny counterfeit I have. I have been all over the interweb, and nothing.