Hey guys, I've got a coin and have tried forever to find out what it is, but had no luck. I was hoping that maybe someone here would know or could help me figure it out. The coin was found in the early 1930's buried in a field by my great grandfather in Clinton County, Kentucky. The coin measures 1½ inches long and 1/16th inch thick. The wording is as follows: front: 1798 CAROLUS IIII DEI GRATIA back: HISPAN ET IND REX M 8R FM (The M has a circle over it) Here are pictures. Sorry for the quality...my digital camera crapped out on me. All help is definitely appreciated!
If genuine it's a Mexican 8 Reale. The m with o over it is the mintmark for Mexico city. Note that this may or may not be genuine, as they've been counterfeited since colonial times. Value is hard to say from the photo but I have these from various years in the shop from time to time and they normally sell for $20-$40, although there are some that are more pricey than others due to condition and mintage numbers. DON'T CLEAN IT! Perhaps someone with access to a catalog can look it up for you. My books are all locked away in the shop till tomorrow.
Great, thanks for the information...hopefully I can find someone that can tell me whether it's real or not. I was hoping it would be worth more, but I won't complain Thanks again!
The Spanish milled dollar, valued at 8 reals (popularly known as the "pillar dollar" and "piece of eight"), was legal tender in the United States until 1857. This renowned coin, the favorite trade coin of international commerce for more than three centuries, was the principal coin of the American colonies, and the forerunner of the silver dollar of the United States. The influence of it's fractional parts (or "bits") is still impressed upon our language. The 1 real coin, being an eighth of the Spanish dollar, had a value of 12.5 cents U.S.; the 2 reals was valued at 25 cents, etc. This is the origin of the slang expression "two bits" for a quarter.
Unfortunately it is difficult if not impossible to tell if the coin is genuine or not based on a pic. I can say that it appears to be genuine - but that is only a guess without seeing the coin in person. I would agree with tradernick regarding the value as this particular coin is common and the condition appears to be Fine at best.
I was meaning finding someone around here where I live that could tell me. I do appreciate the replies. It was just a coin in my collection that I had no earthly idea about. I'm not an avid coin collector. I just have what is given to me or I may cheaply pickup or even find here and there. Again, thanks for the help guys
It's a (Spanish) Mexican 8 Reales, KM-109 in my old 1st ed. 18th century Standard Catalog of World Coins and lists at $20 in VG, $40 in F and $50 in VF. Collector value depends on date, number minted and condition of a coin, including amount of wear, any dents, scratches or cleaning. The Latin legends translate to Charles IV (1788-1808) by the Grace of God King of Spain and the Indies The M with the little o over it is the Mexico City mintmark. The F and M are the mint's assayers' initials. It should weigh 27 grams and would contain .7982 of an ounce of silver. copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
Milled pillar coins (Pillar Dollars) were minted at the Mexico City mint from 1732 until 1771, when they were replaced by the milled bust variety. The Mexico City mint was the first to produce the milled pillar type coinage and the only mint to produce them during the reign of Philip V. The milled pillar dollar was enormously popular and circulated throughout the world, even serving as legal currency in the United States until 1857. Interestingly, they were never produced in Spain, but instead only produced at Spain's New World colonial mints. Mexico City milled pillar coins are easily identified by their mintmark, an M with a small o above. Your coin "looks" like a 1734 Mexico City mint issue 8 Reales. It should weigh approximately 26.6 grams and measure 1.6 inches in diameter. Here is what a genuine 1734 8 Reales looks like: LINK (click here) I also am very sceptical as to the genuineness of your coin.
Sorry Lion - it's definitely a copy - and not very good one. There is not a single detail on that coin that matches the real thing I will say this - whoever made that coin, carved their own dies from scratch. That alone makes it a neat collectible
And it may well be made of silver. But that's why they make them that way. If the coin is the right size and weight - many who have only a passing of the knowledge of the real thing might be willing to pay a couple hundred dollars for such a coin. Not bad for $5 worth of silver and the time to make a a couple of dies.
