Coin ID Please??

[Captn SE]

Hello Everyone.

A fellow md'er in my state (CA) found this coin today. Can anyone give me a clue as to what kind of coin it is?

I've only been able to see a pic of it. It looks silver to me, and he said it's about the size of an American half dollar.

My first thought was maybe a 4 Reale, but the bust of the coin is facing the wrong way.

Thanks,

CAPTN SE
Dan

 

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[PBK]

Looks like a late 18th century French sol, but that's a copper coin. Scroll a little over halfway down at:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-OLD-UNKNOWN-UN-IDENTIFIED-COIN-PLEASE-LOOK-HELP_W0QQitemZ250370974409

 

[Montana Jim]

Dang... I only knew it was French and was still looking!  Nice job PBK.

http://home.eckerd.edu/~oberhot/froybour.htm (bottom of page)

 

[Captn SE]

Thank you very much, PBK and Jim!! You guys are very fast!

HH,

CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[NGE]

Yup, and I'll bet their wives agree..... NGE

 

[ivan salis]

the tri -fluer de lis is a big tip off. (french) from there its just tracking down the exact type / time frame .

 

[cwdigger]

You two guys need to be on wheel of furtune or jeopardy

 

[Montana Jim]

You two guys need to be on wheel of furtune or jeopardy

Will they let me use Google?

 

[Got_4by4]

AHHHH.... But the question is......How did it get to Ca? You didn't say how your friend came upon it. Was it found at the beach? A tot lot? Public park or swimming pool? Perhaps he found it coin roll hunting? Inquiring minds would like to hear more of the story. I really can't see myself finding that kind of coinage here in SoCal.

All questions aside, That is a cool old coin! Tell him good job and HH!

Steve, Got_4by4

 

[ivan salis]

humm 1780ish colonial era french coin in california ? -- spanish understandible but french? odd indeed. ( emperor maximillian of mexico was french backed but that was almost 80 years later 1864 to 1867 )

 

[cwdigger]

You two guys need to be on wheel of furtune or jeopardy

Will they let me use Google?

You know you might could sneak one of them new fancy I phones in there and use that 8)

 

[PBK]

You two guys need to be on wheel of furtune or jeopardy

No, thanks... I'm pretty sure I'm in jeopardy already!

 

[Don in SJ]

It would not be out of the question for a coin like that to show up in Calif, coppers like that were in use for a long time and this one was most likely lost in the 1800's, perhaps as late as Gold Rush years, just never know for sure.
Most later dated 1700 era coins, both copper and silver that are found by us are usually from the 1800's and not closer to the date of the coin.

Don

 

[Captn SE]

Don is right. Some of my Northern Cal buddies have found old French coins (Early 1800's) near the gold mining towns. There was a definite French immigration to the area (i.e. San Francisco) that started as early as the late 1700's, so it is a definite possibility they brought some coins from their homeland with them.

This is a description I found on the French immigration to Norther Cal:

Many visitors from France starting in 1786 with legendary explorer Count de Lapérouse made their way to the remote and beautiful territory around San Francisco, leaving enduring accounts and images of their experience. As France's troubled revolutionary era began in the 1840s, tens of thousands of Frenchmen journeyed to California's goldfields. Some found wealth, others freedom, and some death. Many remained in San Francisco, helping shape the city and make it French from the inside.


Thanks again, everyone, for your insight and knowledge!

HH,

CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[ivan salis]

ah ha!!! --- the french made san franciso the city it is today --

 

[Jadish]

Well, I cannot tell the size of the coin from just the picture, but it looks like a 1/2 Sol from France, minted from 1780 to 1791 with Louis the 16th on the front.

Great find!