I have found these coins detecting over the years and was thinking of selling them on ebay. My question is. Should I sell them as a lot or should I sell them individually or is there any that are worth selling on their own. Also, there is one that is different ( could someone help identify it )? Thanks in advance Richard
I really can't tell but to me looks that the one in the center has a Mo mint mark... That means it was minted in Mexico City. You ought to check the mint marks you may find that the coins are not spanish but from spanish colonies. By the size I would think it's a 1/2 real coin. I would sell them separately, you may get more profit. They're really nice coins.
Wow , I wish I could find great coins like that metal detecting in Canada. The only thing I found of any value is a 25 cent piece from the 80’s…. makes me want to sell my metal detector for scraps on eBay actually…. Did you find anything ells of value using your metal detector?
Here is a link to my pbase galleries. There are two galleries of detecting finds. http://www.pbase.com/richard_canada/root Rich
They are all from Spanish colonies. In order clockwise from the top - 4 reales - likely Mexico City 1 reale - Potosi, Bolivia cut piece - unknown 1/2 reale - Mexico City 1 reale - Lima, Peru and center - 1/2 reale Mexico City
Here is some additional information... During the colonial period in Mexico (1535-1821) the 8 reales piece (also known as the spanish dollar) was legal tender around the world. This was because it was made of pure silver. The Mexico City Mint is the oldest in the American Continent. Since the colonies minted coins to be sent to Spain then the most common was the 8 reales piece. The fractions were minted but in lower quantities. Your cut piece is the result of fraction coins needed. This was done usually by the merchants who paid for goods overseas and didn't have pocket change with them. I remember seeing a curious example in the currency museum in Ottawa (I visited it in the summer of 1997). It was perforated in the centre. Usually they cut the coin in 4 pieces, like the one you have. Some countries even marked the bits to make them legal tender. I have seen some cool examples of bits with chinese symbols at the Museo de la Moneda in Torreon Mexico. I think a bit with a mint mark would be worth much more than one without it. I hope it's useful.
They have been sitting in my display case for a few years and I think the vapors from the lacquer made them blue. I bought the display case from Costco. Rich
