GDJMSP

It's easy to see at a glance they are not even similar - just look at the denticles, or rather the lack of them on your coin as compared to the ebay coin.

And yes, Frank Gilboy did die in '93. But his son, also Frank Gilboy and the one who wrote the book on these coins, is still very much alive.

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knowledge ..... share it

Eduard

You may also want to contact Dan Sedwick. I discussed my coin (see op) with a gentleman there who seemed quite knowledgeable. After comparing pictures, he reassured me about my coin, and also indicated a distinguishing feature of known fakes of the 1772 double dot variety is the "2" in the date missing a little tail. Does yours have this little tail? (can't see the detail too well on the picture). The other factor is of course the weight. Gilboy gives guidelines as to what an 8 Reales should weigh. Mine weighs 26.854 grams, well within the tolerance.

I wish for you your coin is genuine - a scarce double dot 1772 8 reales, and with a Phillipines countermark on top - that would be a truly scarce coin!

Eduard

hspepke

It's easy to see at a glance they are not even similar - just look at the denticles, or rather the lack of them on your coin as compared to the ebay coin.

Yes, the larger planchet of the eBay coin, and it's center strike, shows all the dentiles. On my smaller diameter coin, the offset strike on the obverse only shows the dentiles on the right side, and the center strike on the reverse shows almost no dentiles at all. That asside, what about the similarities I mentioned? All the letters on both sides fall equally, the bases of the crown on the pillars are the same, and the "Empire" crown shows open work alike. The letters of both coins "contact" the crown and shield identically, etc.

My coin weighs 26.5xx grams, and is 1.524 inches in diameter.

And yes, Frank Gilboy did die in '93. But his son, also Frank Gilboy and the one who wrote the book on these coins, is still very much alive.

I had understood that his book was written by his son Christopher... my mistake. I've never seen his book, and the $1,400+ asking price of the one on Amazon will pretty surely ensure that I never will. :>( Maybe they will reprint it for more than the 500 lucky few who have one.
Regards

hspepke

Eduard,

"a distinguishing feature of known fakes of the 1772 double dot variety is the "2" in the date missing a little tail. Does yours have this little tail? (can't see the detail too well on the picture)."

Well, I can't tell from my scan either! I'm on vacation right now in Denver, and won't be home for almost a week. The first thing I am going to do after walking through my front door, is look for the tail! Thanks for this information.

I wish for you your coin is genuine - a scarce double dot 1772 8 reales, and with a Phillipines countermark on top - that would be a truly scarce coin!

Thank you very much. I totally agree.

Eduard

Look here:
http://www.coins2.com/imgsearch/span...2-TO-1772.html


Good luck,

Eduard

hspepke

Thanks, Eduardo. It's already been sold, but now I know what it looks like. :>)

Happily, I've copied and enlarged the scan of my coin on this forum, and I'm pretty sure it has the tail on the 2. It is not hard to copy and paste web pics of coins to Word, and then enlarge them to see the details.
Regards

hspepke

Eduard,
Yes, this coin has the "tail" on the end of the 2! I think I'll hang on to it.
Regards,
hspepke

Eduard

Hey, I am really happy for you to hear that! According to the person at Sedwick Coins I spoke to, that is a key distinguishing feature. Nice catch!