I am new to coins as well as posting anything on a forum. I was hoping someone can tell me anything about a couple coins I have. I have this 1838 penny and this other coin I'm not sure what it is but it is from 1781. Sorry my photos are posted out of order.
The 1838 large cent is damaged. Maybe 5-10 dollars. The other coin looks like a silver Spanish 8 reales, minted in Mexico, for use in commerce in the colonies. (Wait for an expert on that one.) Probably in the $75 range.
The big silver is an 8 reales, legal tender in the U.S. until 1857, I believe. I have Vogt's catalog, and even though the prices are way out of date, all the "F.F." pieces from 1777 to 1784 catalog the same. In 1785, they revert back to the original "F.M." through the end of Charles (Carolus) III's reign, circa 1789, when Charles IV took over. Yes, it's Mexico City. I have no opinion on whether it's genuine; they were 0.903 fine, but the weight is not specified in Vogt, and may have varied a good deal during 40+ years of striking.
