Hello. I'm new to collecting ancient coins. Looking at possibly purchasing this item but I'm not sure exactly what type of coin this is. Looks like Spanish pieces of eight coin? But I'm not sure. Need some help figuring out if this is real and if so what exactly is it and what do you guys think a fair price would be for it? Thanks for any of the information you can provide.
The pics are a bit blurry, but the reverse looks a bit soapy. Not sure it isn't a modern repro. Just my 2 cents.
I'm not an expert on these but it does appear to be a modern reproduction of a Spanish Cob. You can compare yours to this confirmed genuine example from my collection.
Two things that point to a reproduction. As @Ryro said, the devices (design) looks a bit mushy. That tends to point toward a cast copy. Rough or bumpy surfaces point to a cast replica. It's difficult to see from your photos, but the surface does appear rough.... And here's the other thing with these Cobs. They were hand struck. There was no precision involved so more often than not, the devices are not centered. The design wasn't important to these guys. The weight was the important thing. So when you see one with the devices all nice and centered, it raises red flags.
It is a repro 100% sure. But not because of what you call "Good of shape" (it is possible to find original pieces even in better shape. Style is wrong and even with those blurry images you can tell it is a cast piece.
Modern jewelry coin, a poor reproduction. For a general guide, here's what an authentic hammered cob looks like:
