Real or Fake? 8 Reales - results are in PCGS says - .92 (cleaned) - OP updated

zeebob · February 25, 2009 9:59AM

Results of the PCGS submission are just in (April 10, 2009) - dot ninety two - CLEANED. Coming back to me in a gennie holder.

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Weighs 27.0 grams
diameter measures 39.10mm - 39.16mm with digital calipers
thickness measures 2.19mm - 2.31mm

The shiny silvery spot at 4 o'clock on the left hand photo (obverse? reverse?) is pretty shiny in person. Cleaning? Funny toning? Diagnostic of a fake?

Paid $480 delivered. Was sold as XF to me.

Comments welcome. Four questions in my mind:

1 - is it fake?
2 - will it slab?
3 - what is your estimate of grade?
4 - what is your estimate of price?

Regardless of your answers on grade or price, I will not return this piece, so don't worry about thinking that you might be adversely affecting the transaction. I just don't know much about the series. I just think it's VERY COOL to hold in MY hand a coin that was likely in some farmers pocket who was on his way to market to buy a load of hay while our country's founders were tossing tea in the bay or signing the Declaration of Independence or crossing the Potomac to tromp on the Hessians.

ormandh · February 25, 2009 10:15AM

I do not know the series, but something doesn't look right with some of the lettering. But, like I said I know nothing about that series. -Dan

coinnerd · February 25, 2009 10:24AM

I see nothing that would make me think it was fake. What do the edges look like? As far as slabbing can't tell from the pictures.

zeebob · February 25, 2009 10:27AM

coinnerd, what year is your avatar? Very cool.

Edges? I dunno. I'll go take a photo and up load it to photobucket and post pic in the OP. Back in ten. Thanks.

ormandh · February 25, 2009 10:31AM

Here you go. Fake 8 reales

coinnerd · February 25, 2009 10:54AM

what year is your avatar 1745

coinkat · February 25, 2009 11:00AM

I see nothing that is a tip that it is fake. I am trying to remember the weight range and this one may be alittle heavy. I like it and 45 seems right for the grade

coinnerd · February 25, 2009 11:16AM

27g is the correct weight.

Ricke · February 25, 2009 11:37AM

Looks good - Gilboy M-8-32, which is a relatively common date for the series.

Probably won't grade, though. PCGS is sorta tough on this series, in my opinion.

ormandh · February 25, 2009 11:42AM

Is there a good site or book about this series? -Dan

Ricke · February 25, 2009 12:06PM

On the web you'll find Carl Clegg's website - pillars

For books - Frank Gilboys "The Milled Columnarios of Central and South America" is a very good reference, which covers all the Spanish American mints, and covers the pillar series exclusively.

Ricke · February 25, 2009 12:15PM

this is also Clegg's website, and it's a bit more recent. A great page dedicated to fake coin identification on this site:

Columnarios

zeebob · February 26, 2009 3:03AM

ttt - new pics added

ASUtodd · February 26, 2009 3:35AM

Zee.... I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE EDGE ON THAT COIN!!!!!!

coinnerd · February 26, 2009 7:40AM

The edges are great. I would say it's genuine from what I can see, but probably won't slab.

zeebob · February 27, 2009 2:34AM

Won't slab because of what? Color? Cleaning? Damage?

I think I'll give it a quick swish in acetone to remove the finger prints my co-worker put on it when he grabbed it with his big greasy mitts, then drop it in the mail to PCGS. Maybe they'll put it in a gennie slab. That'll keep our controllers hands off of it. (the guy dropped it too, but it was on carpet... grrr.)

zeebob · April 10, 2009 2:47AM

PCGS agreed with Coinnerd. CLEANED.