Chop marked Mexican 8 Reales and Peso newps……let’s see some CHOPPED world coinage!
MEJ7070
Posts: 111 ✭✭✭✭
Couple of newps to share. Haven’t examined either in hand yet but looking forward to doing so. Purchased from trusted dealer…..to be perfectly honest chopmarked coinage is far from an area of expertise for me, but I’ve always found to be a very interesting niche of the hobby. I have a couple trade dollars, but these 2 are me dipping my toes into chopped Mexican.
Would love to see what you guys have laying around! Also, please feel free to share any thoughts on these two! I have very thick skin and am always up for an education 
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Comments
Nice pieces!
Here's a smattering of mine:
chopmarkedtradedollars.com
Here is a book on the subject I own a copy it is a great book:
Here is another one I also own a copy (this is just an image I found on the net) and again a great book:
I have two chopmarked counterfeits, the 1808 is very well engraved but with a legend error, and the 1790 is an interesting alloy, perhaps made with mercury amalgam, that is noticeably denser than silver.
If you haven't seen @chopmarkedcoins on Instagram - I highly recommend checking out his profile
8 Reales Madness Collection
Instagram: 8 Reales Numis
Copy ordered. Thank you very much for the recommendation!
I'm BACK!!! Used to be Billet7 on the old forum.
Happy that you're dipping your toes in the hobby, @MEJ7070! Both of your coins are solid, the 1844-Zs is quite attractive, pre-1850 Cap & Rays Eight Reales are scarce compared to the later issues, and frequently show large, attractive chopmarks, as your example does.
Here are a couple from my collection:
Those are tremendous! Appreciate the kind words. I had read the same regarding pre-1850 Mexican reales, definitely appreciate the reinforcement.
Very interesting - the top coin in the photo is a contemporary counterfeit.
Does it have a copper core with silver plating?
Fac quod debes, fiat quod fiet
I haven't had a composition test done, but it does appear to be a base metal core with a silver wash; the nonsense date is also neat.
Chopmarked contemporary counterfeits are their own collecting niche, there are many different types and they share a theme with authentic coins, given that chopmarks were a way to combat counterfeits. Some of them are domestic Chinese imitations in good silver, which could circulate alongside the genuine article, but most were intended to deceive, such as these lead-core counterfeits made from hollowing out genuine Eight Reales; the first images are the exterior and interior of the shell (each made from authentic coins), and the third is the lead core.
