Counterfeit 8 reale and a silver face: are these old?

[Rustic]

Began hunting in a new place last night, in the far corner of a big field nearby. It hasn't been planted yet so I wanted to check it out before the farmer got to it... Found the usual tractor bits, a few pulltabs, 3 heavy, old, wrought iron stakes, two musket balls.

Then got a good signal and when I flipped the plug saw this fantastical sight:


I had no idea what it was but I didn't want to rub it, but when I picked it up I said to my sister "The edge of it makes me think pewter", because the edge was corroded and black like an old pewter button.

Got it home and just rinsed it off as best I could-- what a mess, but I can make out Carolus III, and I can just make out 176_ for a date.


I then weighed it and the coin is much too light to be a real reale. But I still love it. But is it an old counterfeit? How do you tell? Which brings me to the silver item I found this afternoon at the same place:


It rang up as 82-84 at the 11.6 frequency on my machine and it was about 6 inches down. When I got it home I tested it with my silver test and it is silver. But I'd just love to know if it's old or modern, and I'm hoping you guys might know what it is and have an idea of its age...

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[tracker_usmc]

Congrats on the finds

 

[Iron Patch]

Yes, it's old and is a good find. Contemporary cast counterfeit... being cast is why the low grade metal.

 

[Iron Patch]

I think your silver find is a pistol grotesque. Really nice one too.

pistol grotesque - Bing images

 

[Scrappy]

IP said it all, and what insane ID he made. That Pistol grotesque is one of the coolest finds I've seen on here in a while. And the contemporary 8-R is damn nice too.

Congrats

 

[Rustic]

I think your silver find is a pistol grotesque. Really nice one too.

pistol grotesque - Bing images

Wow, thank you Iron Patch, yes, it looks very much like those images. I am so super stoked about both finds!

 

[Iron Patch]

Wow, thank you Iron Patch, yes, it looks very much like those images. I am so super stoked about both finds!

You should be!

 

[kingskid1611]

Nice catch.......Congrats!!!!

 

[Diggin Dude]

Cool counterfeit but that pistol grotesque is incredible! Awesome find!!
Congrats and HH

 

[Rustic]

Thanks again, Iron Patch, for the id on the pistol grotesque. I never imagined that it would be identified so quickly. I am awed by the amount of expertise you and some of the other veteran detectorists here have at hand. Like Scrappy said, "insane ID".

 

[smokeythecat]

Nice finds. Here's an easy test on the reale. First, it would have lost a little weight if real. Test is this: find a nice, hard wood tabletop. Flip the coin on the countertop and as it hits and spins to settle, see if it "rings". If it does, it's silver. If not, probably a pewter or lead alloy Let us know.

 

[pepperj]

The counterfeit is a cool find, but the pistol grotesque is one great looking find, congrats on both of them.

 

[testing123]

Nice finds. Here's an easy test on the reale. First, it would have lost a little weight if real. Test is this: find a nice, hard wood tabletop. Flip the coin on the countertop and as it hits and spins to settle, see if it "rings". If it does, it's silver. If not, probably a pewter or lead alloy Let us know.

I would not subject your coin to that punishment. It's pretty evident it's pewter or a similar metal. Doesn't look like silver at all, so don't risk damaging a really cool old counterfeit!

 

[dirtlooter]

I think that both are super cool in their own way, the counterfeit shows desperate times or just deception like an old time scam and the grotesque is an awesome ID on another piece of history. don't figure it belonged to a poor person

 

[BigWaveDave]

That pistol grotesque sure is grotesque!
But in an awesome creepy kinda way.

 

[DownNDirty]

I think your silver find is a pistol grotesque. Really nice one too.

pistol grotesque - Bing images

What an outstanding and interesting find-and a very good id by Iron Patch.

 

[Argentium]

What exactly is a pistol grotesque ? I'm pretty sure i don't remember ever seeing one posted here. Would it be crazy to suggest banner for this ? Is it late 18th century ... fascinating find !

 

[Kurios1]

Two way flippin' COOL finds mate. Glad you're stoked as you should be. That silver pistol thingy is creepy as HELL but, as cool as heck too. Great finds for sure.

 

[Ccarson]

Without the screw hole in the mouth. How else would it mount on? I'm no expert but without seeing how it attached to the pistol I wouldn't put money on it. Hey IP do you have any other variations of the pistol grotesques?

 

[The Aluminum Monster]

Until about 1 minute ago, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a pistol grotesque. Crazy identification and I will echo the sentiments that it is a great find and i.d.

Love the real too, contemporary or not. Great stuff!