What Is It???

Waymac

These 2 coins were my Grandfathers. I have no idea what they are or where he got them. Can someone tell me what they are and possibley their value? When I scanned them, the file was too large and so I had to cut them in half. I have tried to piece them back together the best that I could. Thanks in advance.

Waymac










This one has writing and a date on it........






Thanks to any and all that can help me identify these.

Ricke

8 Reales - both of them. The first is a hammered cob type, while the second is a milled pillar design.

I don't know much about the first one - don't know much about the type. The second is Mexican, coined under Spanish rule (obviously in 1745). Difficult to tell condition in the picture, because it's either corroded or harshly cleaned, which would bring down their value. On the other hand, they could be sea salvage coins, which if they are attributed they can be worth more to certain collectors.

Steve27

The second one is an 8 Reale Pillar coin:

coinnerd

The first one is an 8 reales hammered cob type. It looks to be from the Potosi Bolivia mint. It is a pre 1650 type but I can't see any part of a date or kings name to narrow the date any further. This type was minted from the late 1500's to 1650.

Waymac

Many thanks to all who replied. They actually DO look better than the pics. I had to change the color setting to get them under the 50kb (perhaps I just don't know what I'm doing). I used my scanner....I also took digital photos that were better but I couldn't get the site to accept them due to file size.

Is the date on the 2nd one 1745 or 1749?....I can't tell.

Any ideas as to value?

Thanks again, Waymac

Conder101

How can you tell from the pictures tha the first coin is an 8 reales and not one of the lower denominations? I can't see an makings that give the denomination.

I also suspect that these are either sea salvaged or modern copies.

coinnerd

How can you tell from the pictures tha the first coin is an 8 reales and not one of the lower denominations

The Spanish used Roman numerals during this peroid to show denomination. VIII with a dot or circle above was used for eight. Four was always IIII (the arabic 4 was used at times but never IV). Since the V is clearly visible on the right side of the shield, this has to be an 8.

lordmarcovan

<< <i>I also suspect that these are either sea salvaged or modern copies. >>



I agree with conder101 that they appear to be sea-salvaged or base-metal modern replicas. I lean toward the latter theory. Many touristy destinations sell the replicas, and they often have that look- but they'll usually have a noticeable casting seam on the edge.
Nevertheless, I suppose it's possible that they're real and have that dull appearance as a result of being cleaned after long salt water immersion, and/or because of the pictures.

If you "flip" them with your thumb (over a bed or some soft surface, to avoid damaging them if they do turn out to be real), you might also be able to tell. The real coins, made of silver, will ring like any other large silver coin when flipped. The base metal replicas will not.

danglen

I believe the first one was from Phillip IIII because of the four diagonal lines in the lower left hand quadrant of the shield, which would make it early 1600s. The first coins to actually bear dates were minted in 1608.