Are these genuine? Mexican coin 1867 Durango C.P. 8 Reales and others

Hi guys. I recently acquired a few Mexican 8 reales coins but I'm NOT sure about the authenticity of about 4 of them. I am not a Mexican coin collector so I have to ask. I've had hundreds of these coins before but only the common, least expensive ones. This circulated 1867 Durango C.P. 8 reales coin is valued at hundreds of dollars according to my old book but I don't know if it's the real thing. The 1843 Guadalajara M.C. has text that looks funny Then the other two have rims with dentils that are long. Are these normal for these type of coins? It's my first time to encounter them. All I know is that they are definitely silver. Anyone knowledgeable please help me?

Also, I don't know the current values for these coins.

1867 Durango C.P. 8 reales -- 26.3grams, 39mm



1843 Guadalajara M.C. 8 reales -- 26.8grams, 39.5mm




1858 Durango C.P. 8 Reales -- 26.7grams, 38.5mm
http://www.badongo.com/pic/13579223
http://www.badongo.com/pic/13579221

1841 Zacatecas O.M. 8 reales -- 26.65 grams, 38.3mm
http://www.badongo.com/pic/13579217
http://www.badongo.com/pic/13579426


Thank you so much guys.

 

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I hope I am wrong, but am I seeing a faint word "copy" on the top of the first pic?

 

Also, the eagle side of the 1867 Durango seems to have some rays beside the eagle's wings below republica. How did that occur there?

Hi rdwarrior. "copy?" You mean literally? I used a loupe and it's a chopmark like a tiny sun.

 

That's what I'm seeing too hobbyist, a small sun(?) counterstamp or something like that.

Bruce

 

Hi Bruce. Are these chopmarks also important? Are there signs the coin might be a counterfeit? I really don't know if counterfeits of the the 1867 Durango exist. Is it normal for the 1843 Guadalajara to have text that looks 'crudely" done?

 

Sorry hobbyist, I'm not familiar with these series of coins. I was just commenting about the marks on 1867 Durango. Sorry I can't help you.


Bruce

 

At a glance, they look OK. The weights are in the right ballpark, and a lot of Mexican coinage that wasn't made in Mexico City is pretty crude. The chopmark makes plenty of sense in context; 8 reales pieces were commonly used and popularly accepted as trade coinage. The rays appear to be a die clash. I'm hardly an expert on these, to be sure, but I don't see any red flags.

Also, I checked the Heritage Auction Archives. I found two of the Durango pieces. One was a CP which was clearly struck from a completely different pair of dies, but the other, a CP/CM, was from a set of dies that appears to be the same as your piece, up to and including the die break above PUBLI. http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=378&lotNo=14056. You can see an obvious trace of the underlying M on your piece immediately to the left of the P.

I suspect your pieces are just fine; indeed, I think the 1867 Durango is probably well-struck for the issue if the piece I linked is any indication. I will, of course, gladly defer to someone who actually knows something about this series.

Prices from the 5th edition of Krause:

1867 Durango CP/CM: 125 Fine, 250 VF (CP without the underlying CM is slightly more expensive)
1843 Guadalajara MC: 50 Fine, 100 VF
1858 Durango CP: Listed prices are less than bullion up to VF
1841 Zacatecas OM: Listed prices are less than bullion up to VF, and if silver goes up any more, that'll also be true for EF.

 

I believe it is authentic. Typical of a chopmark for the age as swhuck indicated. The reverse lines (ray marks) are from a clashed die.

 

Hi guys. Thank you.

That is so much information, swhuck. I've really learned so much. Thank you so much. :hail::hail: A friend was offering me $140 for the 1867. BTW, the die clash on the obverse would make it a bit expensive, right?

I really appreciate all your help guyz.

 

I doubt the clash would have any effect on the value at all, and I suspect your friend's offer is pretty fair.