Spain 2 Reales 1812 Cadiz

ednar · September 3, 2012 10:26PM

Hello,

I have recently acquired 2 Reales silver coin from ebay. Once received, the first thing I did was to measure the weight.

My digital scale return, (6.0 - 6.1) g whilst the "official" weight is 6.77g

Is there any explanation where another 0.7 lost? Or could this one be fake?

Would really appreciate any answer. Thanks

WillieBoyd2 · September 4, 2012 3:10AM

The OP coin does not look too worn, the letters stand out clearly.

These coins lost weight due to circulation wearing off the metal.

This one is worn but has a readable date:

2 Reales Potosi mint 1779
Weight 6.11gm

This one is even more worn:

2 Reales Mexico mint 1776
Weight 5.67gm

ednar · September 5, 2012 3:27AM

In your opinion, does the one I have is genuine?

As the wear is not too much, less than 50% - but losing like 10% of original weight.

lordmarcovan · September 5, 2012 1:22PM

Maybe your scales are a smidgen off?

Mine certainly were, as noted in this recent discussion about a Spanish colonial.

My scale gave a heavier than expected weight. Somebody posted the weights of modern US coins and suggested I test my scale against those, and sure enough, it came out a little heavier. I dunno if it was enough to account for the discrepancy in my case, but you could try testing your scale, I suppose.

Your coin doesn't raise any obvious red flags to my eyes.

WillieBoyd2 · September 5, 2012 2:43PM

I checked my digital scale with the calibration 50gm weights and an
uncirculated US silver dollar and the scale is accurate.

Of my two coins, one is 90% of a "new coin" weight, the other is 84%.
These coins saw a lot of use before being "retired".

ednar · September 5, 2012 5:18PM

Based on ur suggestion, I tried all Euro coins and they all fall between the range with difference of +- 0.1 but most of time, got the right weight.

I do not have proper knowledge about silver to answer over why my coin look different than the one shown by WillieBoyz...

By the way, what do call (specific name) for this type of edge.

WillieBoyd2 · September 5, 2012 10:44PM

I have only heard of Spanish silver reale coin rim designs being called "edging" or "milled".

Old US historic documents sometimes call the 8-reale coins "Spanish Milled Dollars".

My two show traces of the edging.

Spain 2 Reales 1812 Cadiz

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