Does anybody know what these 2 coins are?

[wirelessworldinc]

I don't know anything about coins. Does anyone know what they are and what the value may be? Mary ann

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Diving for Pleasure and Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[PBK]

They are Spanish colonial 2 reales from the reign of King Charles IV... and they are very nice finds!

The one on the right was struck at the mint in Lima, Peru. I can't see the mintmark on the other one, but with the "P. P." assayers' initials, I believe it's from the mint in Potosi, Bolivia.

Numismatically, due to condition (badly worn and holed) they're worth only a few dollars apiece. Don't feel too bad about that, however. Even if they were in better shape, they'd still be treasures mainly for the thrill of finding them. The reason is that the Spanish mints spewed out silver coins in mind-boggling tonnage, so that even today they're readily obtainable in quantity at relatively modest prices— for example, a 1793 Lima 2 reales like the one you found lists for about $7-12 in Very Good to Fine condition— but they're far from easy to find in the field!

 

[ivan salis]

its equal to a 1/4 of a spanish "peso" -- in the the time frame 8 reales was a peso (dollar)--- its the famous "2 bits " and is silver -- these are not overly valuible due to the holing and condition issues but are still hard to find metal detecting and are thought of as way cool treasure. nice find --- Ivan

 

[kierdan]

very cool, nice find. Is it pretty common to find them with holes? It seems I have seen a couple here lately with holes in them.

 

[creeper71]

Holy Crap !!! you found 2? that is almost impossible to find one let alone 2..amazing finds!!!!!

 

[johnnycat]

Not very valuable or hard to find. Please just let me find one.

 

[Mackaydon]

Assayer initials "I" and "J" stand for Ignacio Zenon Gelves and Juan Martinez de Roxas who worked together between 1787 and 1803. As PBK noted, the monogram 'LIMAE' is the mintmark noting the coin was produced in Lima, Peru. A similar coin can be found on the referenced site noted as "2R 1793 LIMAE ---I.J."
Source: http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/Sp-milled.4.html

I believe the other coin is dated 1796 and is similar in design to this coin (http://www.vcoins.com/world/civitas/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=9713) except for the denomination. I agree with PBK that it's a coin from Potosi.
Don.....

 

[wirelessworldinc]

Thank you for everyone's help. Mary ann

 

[Mackaydon]

Mary Ann:
Did you happen to find them in your part of the country?
Don....

 

[wirelessworldinc]

A girl brought them into my shop and I said that I would try to find out what they were for her. LOL, all I ever find MD'ing is pennies and junk. Mary ann

 

[Kansasippi]

As a side note holes in old coins a indicative of an early form stashing or hiding coins. In fact the reason Chinese coins have holes in them is specifically to allow stringing them without destroying the coins. Particularly those who had very little money or some servants who were not allowed to have currency hid what they had on there persons in this manner.

On your coins the one on the right has been drilled, the one on the left the hole has been punched. The one on the left may have its hole for reasons other than to wear it.

Just a thought.

 

[Mackaydon]

I'm further off topic here but wanted to add to Kansasippi's comment:
"The shape of the Chinese 'cash' coin was practical as the coins were low value and could be strung together for making payments. There is also a much more symbolic reason for the shape. In ancient times, the Chinese believed that the earth was square and heaven was domed. The emperor was thought of as an agent who could communicate between heaven and earth. By making the coins this shape, the emperor was reinforcing his place in the system."

Source: http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/themes/money/what_is_money.aspx

Another reason why they have square holes has to do with the manufacturing process. The square hole facilitated holding the coin in place while the edge of the coin was filed to remove excess metal.
Don.....

 

[ivan salis]

way back before pockets became "normal" on clothes and "paper money" was heavily use and wallets carried --- coins were the cash of the day ---to avoid losing them they often were put on a string or bit of cord and the the loop of cord was pinned to your clothes or put a coin pouch was worn around the neck or tied at the waist -- some folks carried a small bit of money on a leather thong around their neck as a form of "emergancy cash " or jewelry--some used the hole in the coin to stitch a coin or two in their clothing -- for emergancy use also