I found this coin the other day relic hunting and old house site. It was in unbelievable condition to have been in the ground so long. Researching I discovered it was the First Date of the Bust Type and was minted in Lima Peru. The only other info I could find of this date and mint was a fair condition 2 reales for sale ($225.) on Ebay claiming it to be mega rare. Would be grateful for any additional info on this coin. Robert
Per Numismaster.com: 1772 LIMA 8 REALE Composition: Silver Fineness: 0.903 Weight: 27.0674 g 0.7858 oz ASW VG 50.00 F 100.00 VF 150.00 XF 225.00 I hope that's a help. Great find!
It looks beautiful. Do not clean it, wipe it, rinse it or do anything else to it otherwise you may reduce its value significantly. This is the type of look that I attempt to buy when I buy these coins. Great find.
Thanks for the info. Just wondering did the source tell for sure that it was the Bust type and not the Milled type? Because I think both types were made in Peru in the same year. Thanks Again. Robert
Glad I can help Robert. Yes, in 1772 Lima changed over from the "Globes and Columns" to the "Bust" type 8 reales and produced both. I understand what you mean by "milled" in your question. But for reference, the are both milled coins, referring to the process by which they were struck.
Thanks Tom for the advice. I did not clean the coin other than rinse off the dirt. I will follow your advice. The coin has more detail than the pictures show for posting. Still not sure what condition the coin holds, could not have been circulated too much. Thanks again, Robert
I'd say the coin has AU53 details. I say details cause the coin was in the dirt for so long but it could grade higher. I have a 1788 myself and I love it. I like your date better though Awesome find.
The coin shows signs of light corrosion as would be expected and has a small scratch. But overall it is in very nice condition for a ground find. I would suggest taking it to a jewelry store to have the coin weighed, get the weight in xx.xx grams. I see no reason to suspect it is not genuine but the weight will help confirm that.
Better Pics with Edge Coin was found about 9" deep in sandy soil in an area where I found early US military buttons from about year 1800. Robert
