Bought two Eight Reales Cobs on Ebay - Are they Authentic?

[Greybeard Shepherd]

Bought these on Ebay. Only paid $55 so there is no big loss here. Can anyone tell me if they are authentic? Thanks!

 

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[Mackaydon]

Can't tell you if they are real, but they look it--and pitted by the action of the sea.

 

[Greybeard Shepherd]

I should have added this to my original question. With the very limited visible information, is there a hint as to the mint or year?

 

[Trez]

Mexico is the mint............
Worn and pitted........
Look like ol' 1715 fleet washers...
But, can't say for sure....

Like you said....$55.00

Trez

 

[bradyboy]

what state / country do you buy them from?
if from eBay, the state or country of origin should have been listed.
do you have the original link that they were listed on?
Brady

 

[Greybeard Shepherd]

Here's the Ebay Link http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110249931693

 

[PyrateJim]

Cant tell much more from the description on ebay. Being from the US is a good thing, and I dont recall hearing anything negative about the seller. The clincher should be the weight. The seller claims they are pieces of eight. If they are 8 reales, they should weigh in between 23 and 26 grams each. The higher number for a good specimen, the lower number will take into account weight lost due to corrosion and cleaning. For a 4-reale, cut the 26 gram figure in half, and follow that formula for a 2, 1 and 1/2 reale. I am not seeing any "seems" around the edges, so that is a good sign. Is the pitting in the metal more natural and sharp or does it appear to be more rounded or soft. If the later, could be casted and in that case, replica.

Alos, how do they sound when they dropped on a table top? Heavy "thud" like solid silver, or a more higher pitched "tinney" sound? If the "tinney" sound, you have a good chance at havng replica's. If they are replica's, they are good ones. If they are real, a GRET buy at $55.00.

 

[alpha105]

They come from Fort Pierce, FL, United States.....thats a little north of the SE corner of florida.....id say real....

Try the sound test mentioned above......if so im buying some from that guy also.....hehe

I plan on going down there either next year or soon after the hurricane season to check out a few spots.....bringing my F-2.....dont know if its a good machine but ill try......getting it tomorrow and going on my first detecting trip to a farm in edgerton Wi thats about 120+ years old

 

[carolus2]

Looks real, see if you find somthing similar in our web page: www.robcar.net

Carolus2

 

[nero_design]

Bought these on Ebay. Only paid $55 so there is no big loss here. Can anyone tell me if they are authentic? Thanks!

Whilst I'd prefer to take a closer look, they do appear to be authentic. The price reflects the lack of strong detail and the pitted surface suggests a long time under moving sand.

It's becoming harder to spot fakes unless they are handled and viewed in person. Some of the experts have been fooled and even a few museums exhibit the odd fake without realizing it. Note also that there were fakes made at the same time as the originals and those tend to attract a lot of interest from collectors as well. Modern fakes are often found all over eBay. There are a few reputable sellers there thought. The Chinese stain the silver and then throw it into a tumbler with sand to wear the surface.

As for the OP's images, I think they look authentic and the torn hole looks nice. I don't see any reason to be concerned.

 

[SamsSon]

Like stated they look good but reales need to be held in hand and examined.

Congrats on a great deal!

Wish I had seen it first

Sam I am

 

[Iron Patch]

Yep, good deal even if worn still worth that.

I'll bet my detector they're real.