1797 2 reales Mexico?

killer26

Don't know if these pics will show up, it's my first time trying to upload pics using an iPad If not I'll fix it ASAP http://gallery.me.com/cmcilveene/100033/IMG_0582
http://gallery.me.com/cmcilveene/100033/IMG_0584

harasha

To create a hotlink, use the http tab, like so:

Obverse

lordmarcovan

Yes, it looks like a Mexico City 2-reales piece.

That's some funky, weird toning, there. Obviously it's secondary toning that resulted from an old cleaning. It might negatively affect the value of the coin, but that being said, I don't totally hate it- it's kind of neat.

(Edit: I can see your pix as I've posted them below, but whether anyone else can remains to be seen.)

killer26

<< <i>Yes, it looks like a Mexico City 2-reales piece.

That's some funky, weird toning, there. Obviously it's secondary toning that resulted from an old cleaning. It might negatively affect the value of the coin, but that being said, I don't totally hate it- it's kind of neat.

So what range of value would u say it is in ur opinion?
And where does one go to find the values of old world coins like this?

lordmarcovan

I'm at work and haven't got my books handy. The Krause Standard catalog is what you need. (Five volumes; one volume for each century from the 17th to the 21st.) They're pricey, though.

I've got the 18th century catalog at home and can give you a value when I get there later (if I remember). Otherwise somebody could chime in.

I have sold low-grade, common 2-reales for as little as five bucks in the past, but that was years and years ago. (Heck, just the melt value ought to be worth more than that, these days!)

Unless that's a better date (and I don't think so), this is a fairly common coin overall, and it will likely be worth less than ten bucks in that condition. The toning is both a plus and a minus (it's not original, and the coin was cleaned, but like I said, the colors are kind of cool in a funky, artificial way.)

TwoKopeiki

Toning definitely looks off. I'd guess heat was applied.

lordmarcovan

Yes, it's definitely a shake-and-bake job, or it was stored in an old paper album of some kind in a hot attic for years and years.

The 1797-FM Mexico City 2-reales (KM#91, .903 silver/.1965 oz) goes $7.00 in VG, $15.00 in Fine. This according to the 4th Edition Krause (1701-1800) volume (circa 2007). Hope that helps.

I would call it VG, if only barely, so if one deducts for the heat-treatment, you're looking at a coin that's basically worth the melt value of .1965 oz of silver. Which sounds pretty harsh, since it is, after all, a neat old 214-year-old silver coin and not tiny. Chances are pretty decent that you could find somebody perfectly willing to pay more than the melt or the book value, though, simply because it's a cool old coin (or "conversation piece", or whatever).

Summary: it ain't worth that much technically, at least in serious numismatic circles, but I sort of like it, and somebody else in the non-numismatic community probably would value it even more.

killer26

Agreed! I have a few other Reales in and around this same date so if and when you can I'd love to hear what some of the better dates are..