Coin Help

[minton7]

Found this tonight and have no clue what it is... first I thought it was a half dime, but definately not that.. it is dime sized... Spanish or Mexican perhaps? Upset greatly that I scratched it.. well I take the blame for it although I can not 100% certain it was me....

 

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[deepsecrets]

Mexican 10 Centavos? 1860's?

correction - half real

 

[minton7]

looks close... but the shield in the middle of mine is larger

 

[minton7]

Got it.... yes you are correct it is is half real... 1858 to be exact(as far as I can tell) the cap on mine is inverted from theone in the pic I found, but other than that, it is spot on! Amazing how this coin got in a yard in SE Ohio about 5 " down.

 

[Mackaydon]

The denomination can easily be determined: 16mm for a 1/2 R and 18 mm for a 1 R.
Of greater interest to me is the location of the legend on your coin's Liberty Cap. I've only seen the legend below the cap, not above it; i.e. not over the point in the cap. Your pic in the 1:49 pm entry is the 'usual' position of the lettering. Also, the coin in the 1:49pm entry is dated 1828 with the assayer's initials of MR. To have been minted in 1858, this coin would have had a PF assayer's initials.
Don....

 

[minton7]

so is what I have is the 1828 then? The diamater is smaller than a current US dime so it's the 16mm half reale as far as I can tell... what about the lettering positioning? is it an error, fake or what? it does appear to have the MR initials on it.. the date is so worn.. I can tell it is 18?8 just wasn't 100% on whether the other number was 3 or 8.. but upon looking at it better, it could very well be a 2.

 

[Mackaydon]

I can't see enough of your coin for a clear ID; except for the denomination; if truly a vaild coin. I can tell you this; of the 14 different Mexican mints that were operational during the period 1824 to 1897, I've never seen a regular issued coin (eagle on the front) with the legend on the reverse that appear ABOVE the Liberty Cap; it's always UNDER the cap. If it's a real coin, one characteristic would be the reverse legion that should read: 1/2R (mint mark) (date) (assayer's initials) 10 Ds 20 Gs.
Don....

 

[minton7]

What I can see on the coin with an LED light and my jeweler's loop is: looks like something before the date, but its way too worn to tell what it is, (a date which could be 1828),MR,10D(looks like a small "s" or something above the G at the end,20G.. based on your info, it seems authentic although the mystery of the legend placement still exists

 

[deepsecrets]

I'm confused as to why there is a question on the placement of the legend - it would appear that the small rays are emanating from the base of the cap with the legend below as expected. The cap appears to the mis-shapen - could be a minting error? On your photo, does that show a gouge on the cap where it was scratched?

 

[minton7]

The cap should be like a pyramid with the legend at the base... mine is not like this....

 

[minton7]

and yes the gouge is a scratch .. I am taking the blame for it

 

[deepsecrets]

Although faint, the LIBERTAD is partially visable along the base of the Cap which would be consistent with the small rays. THe shape of the cap and rays differs with the Mint and year of mintage. A good resource to see is : Mexican imperial and republican coinage, 1822-1905 - CoinFactsWiki The circle shows an unusual placement of rays at the base of the cap - this might be an identifier also to the year and Mint. Best wishes on id'ing the coin - great find!

 

[minton7]

I really appreciate all the help and info.... I was looking at the cap wrong... while i can not for the life of me see any letters in the Libertad.... it looks more and more like this is indeed a real reale LOL