Does this 8 reaped look authentic?

I have here some pictures of an 8 reale cob for sale by a “naissus-treasures” on eBay. He has auctions of these on occasion and claims they’re from shipwrecks but he sells from Serbia, a red flag. He doesn’t accept returns and I’m new to collecting and would like some other opinions if this looks authentic. The weight is listed as 25.28 grams. Any advice appreciated.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/throughtheages2014​

My experience:
Mr. David Jenner, (link above,)
metal-detects in the UK —
I am no expert on authenticating.
From my personal experience,
David strikes me as possessing good moral character.
I have enjoyed every engagement,
and find him to be honest and humble.

(As only a sidenote: )
Selling counterfeit money is illegal.
(That policy dates back way before the Internet.)
In online purchases:
The bank has always sided with me, and refunded my money.

That is not “a blanket-policy” though:
Always heeding gut-instincts & red-flags is good practice.​

 

Zac, I'd pass on this one and find a seller that accepts returns.
J.T.

 

That's definitely a cast coin.

Check out Dan Sedwick's offerings. Right now it looks as if most of the coins posted have been sold, but if you check from time to time you might find one within your budget.

https://www.sedwickcoins.com/price_list.htm

 

Thank you for letting me know, any pointers on why it’s an obvious cast?

 

The overall appearance of the coin strongly suggests that it was cast, plus the low weight. The edge of the coin, while not photographed, probably has a seam or traces of a seam and likely the "gate" where metal was poured into the mold.

A salvaged coin does display, usually, rough surfaces and corrosion, the effects of centuries in saltwater, but also land burial. However, there is always a indication here and there that the coin was struck, unless the corrosion is so bad that that all detail is gone.

The OP coin pretends to be salvaged, but the detail is pretty uniform and mushy. Many 8 reales cobs, as well as other denominations show variations in strike and flan quality, depending on the mint and period. Even for those coins, that are in the vast majority of examples, with experience it is easy to see that they were struck.

Here's a Potosi 8 reales, 1652 E, from either the Capitana or the Maravillas. I think it is from the latter, but I don't have any certificate. This is a high grade example for a salvaged coin. Still, there are signs of minor corrosion, especially around the periphery of both sides. It appears that the center was spared damage possibly due to the coin's position or location on the sea floor.

This is a struck coin, with very clear detail, generally speaking. The pressure of the dies, during the striking process, exerted pressure on the metal of the heated flan, causing it to displace and fill the recessed engraved portions of the design, creating a clear delineation between the fields (lower areas) and the legend, letters and design element (raised areas). Cast coins lack this definition and have an ill-defined appearance.



As you collect these fascinating and historical coins, you'll gain experience which will help you distinguish genuine coins from the phonies. It take experience, and in my case, the purchase of a fake coin, a copy of the very well known Potosi 8 reales, 1732, with the YA assayer monogram, a very attractive design and very rare. Fortunately I caught my mistake and was able to return it to the dealer the next day at the coin show.

Here's one more salvage coin, very corroded, that's been cleaned. These coins come usually very heavily encrusted. Usually electrolysis is used, as with the Atocha coins, to remove the deposits. This is an effective method, but it leaves the coins with a very bright, and I think unnatural appearance. This coin was probably cleaned with chemical and physical (hand tool) methods. The result is a very corroded surface, but still possessing some detail from the striking process.

Coins in this grade are often used in jewelry.

Potosi, 8 reales, (16)52 E. From the Capitana (1654) or Maravillas (1656).
21.06 grams