The Mystery Coin

[FooserPaul]

Well I've all but given up on this one... I dug this about 2 feet away from the Irish 1694 william and mary 1/2 farthling.... This was in a basement of a 1704 tavern I have access to...

I can see an image in the middle and make out some of the lettering... the coin is 1-2MM smaller than a dime and thinner...

I've had this up a few times and this is as clean as I seem to be able to get it...

Anyone have any clues?

Paul

 

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[Don in SJ]

If it is silver, it is a Half Real, with a bust, then late 1700s or later, if copper, than a possible counterfeit or a colony copper, possibly 1/4 Real, but I don't think they had busts on either side.


Don

 

[FooserPaul]

Rotated so the IND is on the bottom... and the image definately looks reale like....

 

[romeo-1]

It is either a half real or a one real...looks like it's been through a fire!

 

[Moe (fl)]

Nice find!

I agree that it could be a 1/2 reale silver coin. The IND would be part of the obverse legend HISPAN ET IND or HISP ET IND. The IND is for Indies.

Here are pics of some older 1/2 reales.

HH!
Moe

 

[FooserPaul]

This coin is deinately copper... rings a solid 32 on my X-Terra 70... so its not silver...

But that top coin you posted looks right...

Paul

 

[romeo-1]

This coin is deinately copper... rings a solid 32 on my X-Terra 70... so its not silver...

But that top coin you posted looks right...

Paul

Than it is a contemporary counterfeit. Nice find!

 

[Don in SJ]

As far as your number reading being 32, not sure if that guarantees it is copper or not. Have you found any other Half Real coins before, if so where do they read? Half Real coins do not read as high as silver dimes on my XS, and one that has been possibly partially melted would read even lower. My son found a debased 1595 French Douzain, which is a very thin silver coin, and that read as FOIL on both his Fisher CZ70 and on my XS.

I don't used digital numbers on my XS (not as accurate as the crosshair system) but I just did running a test with quite of few different Half Real coins, One Real coins and one Two Reale coins, then I did a colonial copper and a Mercury dime.

Only the Half Real coins came in two digits lower than the One Real and Two Reale coins, They were also two digits lower than the KGII Regal Halfpeny or two I compared with.

Bottom line, I believe mass may effect how they register, and not necessarily the material made of, since all Half Real coins I tested (at least 10) read lower than the larger One Real and Two Reale coins and copper coins and the Mercury Dime . I also tested a coin silver ring and that read very low, despite being coin silver.

We cannot tell from photos the material, but regardless, it is either a slightly toasted Half Real or a slightly toasted counterfeit copper Half Real, no longer a mystery coin.

Here are two copper coins, one is a counterfeit copper 1797 2 Reale and the other a legit 1820 1/4 Real.

Don

 

[FooserPaul]

Thanks to everyone that helped on this...


Especially Moe for the ID and DON... the you on going fountain of information and you willingness to always jump in and help...

/bow humbly....

Paul

 

[cheese]

I'm betting it's badly corroded silver, and if it were mine, I'd put it in electrolysis and let it cook. If it's silver, you may just be surprised how nice it cleans up. I once found a black silver barber half that I thought was toast. I put it in the bath and it came out great with a nice date and all. You don't have anything to lose with that coin, I'd try it. Here's before and after:

 

[Moe (fl)]

Paul,

I agree with Don that the VDI numbers on older and foreign coins are not as reliable as with more modern US coins. I think size/shape, metal, and mass determine the VDI number you get. I tested a 1600s Spanish 1/2 reale cob (silver) and got a 26 on my MXT meter. It also makes a difference what type of coil you use.

This is why you can't just dig based on VDI readings because you will likely pass a lot of good targets. I now dig more by sound than VDI number.

Happy Hunting!
Moe

 

[nc-joe]

Moe's first picture is identical to the design of your coin.


Counterfeit coins circulated and copper examples were accepted by merchants as long as they were about the size and weight of official coins.

 

[Noodle]

OMG, Cheese, those are beautiful examples. Thanks for sharing!!! -Noodle