i found this coin while hiking in south america: http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=300424708&size=l What is it? A 1700s spanish 1/2 real? Mint? Grade? Fine? Very Good? any guess at the denomation, mint, year of this cob ? : http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=300424710&size=l I just put this photo in for kicks... http://static.flickr.com/113/300424713_ab4b57c526_b.jpg gnarled as it is, I love this little, peru republic 1/4 real 1826? or 1836? Thanks for any info, M.
Is that a 1/4 Lima Lama?..hehe We have lots of experts on early Spanish colonial stuff here,including big Daddy Doug,one of the moderators.Shouldn't be too long before one of them answers this. Even I will be astounded if someone can ID the date on your cob,or even the mint and a "rough" guess on the date.
WOW! Great find. Was it just laying on the surface? Maybe there are more in the area! It might have been part of a little horde. Talk about picking up some history....
The story is... I was passing through a remote small village in Venezuela, and stopped into a simple shop that sells soda and crackers. The proprieter was leaning on a makeshift dusty wooden shelf, when I asked, "Would you know of any old stuff for sale?". I was surprised when in one smooth motion he pulled the coin off the shelf next to him and held it up to me and said "Like this?" He'd found it sweeping the floor one day.
The first coin you pictured is a Type 1 half reale struck by the Lima mint under the rule of Philip V between the years of 1568 - 1588. There is not much left of the second coin, but based on what there is I think it is a Type 1 quarter reale from the same period and mint. Cobs are not really my thing so I have no idea if they are genuine or not. The third coin does appear to be an 1826 quarter reale from the Lima mint. It was the first year of Republic coinage.
GDJMSP , 1568 - 1588 !?! Wow, that's a nice surprise. Thanks. I had no idea it was THAT old... Anyone take a guess at the approximate market value of a 1/2 Reale Philip V 1588 in this condition? $10?
Thats a bonus. Are there many Spanish colonial coin collectors who visit this forum ? I am collecting these type of coins mostly for family history reasons. Other than profit, I'd be interested to hear some of the other motivations that collectors have for hoarding these coins. Mostly a nostalgic fascination with the new world, I guess. M.
