Can anyone help with an ID

[Pat C.]

Can anyone help with an ID? The diameter is slightly over one inch.

 

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[G.A.P.metal]

Spanish Reale Spanish real - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[coinman123]

It's a 1730 silver Spanish reale cob coin. What is it's weight, It looks like it is an 2 reales! Spanish silver coins were the main large denomination coinage in Colonial America, whereas British Copper coinage was the main small denomination coinage used in Colonial America. Eight reales would have been equal to one dollar in american money, 4 reales would be a half dollars, 2 reales would be a quarter (also known as a "bit"), 1 reales would be equal to a little more than a dime, and a half reale would be equal to a little more than half a dime. Large spanish silver coins were often cut into smaller pieces to make "change", people would cut an eight reales into forths and each quarter would be equal to 2 reales, sometimes these cut pieces would be counterstamped with a the value of each piece, such as a quarter of a cut 8 reales would be counterstamped with a 2. The American dollar was based on reales currency, and the dollar sign comes from the banner going through the piller on the later milled 8 reale coin. These coins were minted in many mints in Spain and South America. British silver was scarce in America, so America adopted the real, which was legal and and commonly seen in circulation until 1857. Incredible find, I would love to dig one. This may be banner worthy, did you metal detect it?

I think it may be Potasi, Boliva (I think I did a horrible job spelling that) due to the "P" on the coin, but I'm not sure, maybe someone else can help on that.


Coinman123,

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

G.A.P.metal's "basic" ID of your coin is correct, and Coinman123 is correct that it is a 1730 Spanish silver Real coin... but because you said its diameter "is slightly over one inch" it is the 2 Reales denomination, not an 8 Reales.

In case you don't already know... when the newly-independent United States set up its coinage system, it chose to reject the British system (pounds, crowns, shillings, etc), instead preferring to base the US One Dollar coin on the Spanish silver 8 Reales coin. The 2 Reales coin you found was the basis for the US Quarter-Dollar coin.

 

[coinman123]

Coinman123 is correct that it is a 1730 Spanish silver Real coin... but because you said its diameter "is slightly over one inch" it is the 2 Reales denomination, not an 8 Reales.

In case you don't already know... when the newly-independent United States set up its coinage system, it chose to reject the British system (pounds, crowns, shillings, etc), instead preferring to base the US One Dollar coin on the Spanish silver 8 Reales coin. The 2 Reales coin you found was the basis for the US Quarter-Dollar coin.

Thanks TheCannonballGuy, something about an eight reales being a litlle over an inch sounds wrong, most 8 reales are over 1.5" Would 4 reales be a possibility? I edited my first post to give correct info.

Coinman123,

 

[ARC]

awaiting story behind this one... seems way too perfect.

 

[reale bill]

I would say what you have is a copy of a 1736 gold escudo. there were copies made in silver and sold as souvineers. .I bought one back in the 70's. mine was gold plated to resemble the actual coin. judging from the shape and appearance of yours,it was cast from the same actual coin as mine.the actual 1736 escudo is pretty rare and therefore quite valuable
ps.....do a google search on 1736 gold escudo

 

[coinman123]

I think that bill got it right! Here is the OP's coin compared to the reproduction.


Another photo of a reproduction 1736 escudo.

A real spanish cob.


Coinman123,

 

[Pat C.]

Thank you. This discussion is extremely helpful. My dad came across this coin years ago and it has remained unidentified for decades. Any idea what the value is?

 

[Iron Patch]

Thank you. This discussion is extremely helpful. My dad came across this coin years ago and it has remained unidentified for decades. Any idea what the value is?

Fifty cents as a trinket. More if you're a good salesmen.

 

[maxpower]

I bought a couple of those when I was a kid from the armory we went to on a field trip