First Darkside Purchase - Can Anyone Give me any Info? TwoKopeckii can you help?

speety · February 18, 2009 12:08PM

I recently picked up my first non-US coin at a local show. Can anyone tell me anything about it? I know about the 8R coin in general but almost nothing about the better dates and how to grade them. Anyone want to comment on these two things? Thanks!

adamlaneus · February 18, 2009 12:11PM

Peligro! Libertad!

I can comment that I, too, know little about grading and rarity on these. But I do like rays.
That one looks "mid AU".

coinnuttius · February 18, 2009 12:33PM

Someone just recently asked and the following url was posted: http://fao-coins.info/mex/Cap-and-Rays.html

Oh, there is a book out there.. Resplandores or something.. check the ANA website (money.org).

HTH.

spoon · February 18, 2009 2:47PM

Welcome to the Darkside!

That's a nice first purchase, hopefully not your last in this great area of collecting!

I'm pretty much useless on these, but if you change the OP's title to indicate what it is I'm sure TwoKopeckii and other experts will swoop in with more info shortly.

theboz11 · February 18, 2009 9:40PM

speety · February 18, 2009 11:01PM

Thanks for the welcoming guys, some of the designs are pretty cool and they are relatively cheap compared to US coinage, especially the seated dollars i've been buying lately.

lol

CIVITAS · February 19, 2009 1:58AM

1877-Mo is a very common date and can be found fairly easily in high grades. It's hard to tell from your scan what kind of surfaces your coin has, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear it's slabbed as UNC (the high points look worn in the photo, but they may not look that way in person). But, my read on it is Choice EF to low AU (45-53).

CIVITAS · February 19, 2009 1:59AM

Nice coin BTW. If you plan to buy more, be sure to pick up the Resplandores book by Dunigan.

ASUtodd · February 19, 2009 2:31AM

And if you want to branch out into other 8 Reales... this website HERE is a good resource also!

dizzlecc · February 19, 2009 10:12AM

It looks like you made a nice choice for your first 8 reales.

The coin has a good strike and nice detail in the breast feathers and the head of the snake. It also seems to have nice original features.

I can't determine luster from the pic but I would guesst the grade at au 55-58.

The coin is from the Mexico City mint and the assayer is MH but I don't believe we know their name.

It is not easy finding 8 reales in pcgs holders. Raw coins are a bit easier to find and come in affordable prices.

One of the interesting things about the 8 reales is the many variations of eagle and snake designs.

speety · February 19, 2009 12:55PM

Thanks for all the responses guys! The coin is in an NGC XF-45 holder, i personally thought it was more an AU-50/53 if i were to grade it like i would a seated dollar... they have to be similar, right? lol It costed, a whopping, $25. I could get used to this after dropping $22k on my 1840 seated dollar.... the 8R seems like a friggin bargain!!!

ajaan · February 19, 2009 7:28PM

<< <i>But, my read on it is Choice EF to low AU (45-53). >>

Josh, you are good.

coinkat · February 19, 2009 8:49PM

likely au50 with a shot at 53.

If you are remotely serious, the Dunigan book is very helpful in terms of condition rarities

baddspellar · February 20, 2009 12:05AM

I found this site not too long ago. It's an online journal dedicated to Mexican Numismatics.

Mexican Coin Magic - Online Journal

First Darkside Purchase - Can Anyone Give me any Info? TwoKopeckii can you help?

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