My fiance found this coin on the beach. I found that it is a Doubloon but am wondering if it's real or a fake.
Not a doubloom as they are gold, and it isn't a piece of 8 or a Sanish cob....what it is ....a fake, or cheap copy. Sorry to pop your bubble but it isn't a real....8 reale A tourist trap gift shop copy.
Compare my 8 reales to yours....an easy test for silver on a cob or coin in general can be done very easy with a tissue.....lay a tissue over the cob / coin if you can see the coin through the tissue it is silver if not its some sort of base medal.
Hi Melissa...... I am going to offer what I fully admit is a non-experts opinion. That's all this is... My opinion. Some years ago I was very lucky and found the piece below on a shore after a hurricane came through. Now these pieces were all hand struck and as such are not consistent. I offer this as a comparison only. Now when I look at yours, I see what appears to me anyway to be a cast replica. The devices are not sharp and have the appearance of being cast rather than struck to my eyes. Secondly, the beach gift shops are slap full of cast replicas just like yours that are brass plated. I believe I can see the brass plating remaining in the low areas of your piece. It wouldn't be unusual to find a cast copy on the beach since they are sold at the souvenir stands all along the beach. I hope I am wrong, but don't get your hopes too high. These aren't usually worth a great deal anyway. Best of luck on your upcoming marriage.
Randy some of these souvenirs are guilted with gold paint . If it was on a beach the sand would of removed the high points , and the lower fields would still hold the paint. Have a look at the cob I just sold Lord Mac.....that was from a beach wreck it is as smooth as a babies bottom.
Now I know your marriage will be blessed with good luck. Wrightsville Beach is where I fell in love with my wife back in 1986.
Here's the representaive cob that is in my "what circulated in America before the Revolution" collection. The best thing about this coin is that you can read a date on it, 1654. I too don't think that what you have is gold, and I have my doubts that it is genuine, but I am no expert in this field.
Minted in Mexico city mint O/M = Mexico city mint P = essayer for that mint Lions upper right and lower left of the cross....castles opposite uper left lower right. Many do not carry a date that is determine by matching mint mark and essayer, cross and kings shield on reverse.Phillip IV
Sweet cob can't believe they gave a detail to gold . Silver cobs when found are encased in a black covering. Thus need be cleaned most gold found looks just like the day it sunk. As gold does not oxidize.
Yeah, me not having any providence to a shipwreck killed it, they added 'Saltwater Damage' Honestly, I was expecting XF35 myself when I sent it.
Gold does not oxidize, but seawarter is like fine sandpaper. The stuff takes off an even layer of metal from the surface of the coin. The result is usually little change in the relief of the design, but no mint luster and a matte like finish. That is the so-called "seawater effect" and it is a kind of damage. Gold coins in the center of the pile that are not hit by the current can made pristine and high grade, like this coin from the SS Central America.
