To clean or not to clean.

[ReidMan]

Doing a little water hunting today came up with a surprise. A Spanish 8 reale at least a piece of one.
It has a chocolate patina on it. Not sure if I should clean it or not.


Ok I should have followed my rule of if you can see a date and ID coin leave it alone. I did electrolysis on it very lightly and slow, it came out terrible. Most of the markings are almost gone. Oh Well

 

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[Bill D. (VA)]

You already know how I feel about that. A nice electrolysis bath will have those details shining in no time. When you said you had something to show me I had no idea you'd find cut silver at that site. Great find!

 

[Vino]

Well look at it this way, it has no value right? And if you want to show it off. People need to see it.. Yes we know what it is, but will the OP. Know?
If it was my, it would be bubbling right now. Lol
Oh by the way that is a great find.
George

 

[Patriot Relics]

Maybe just the tip? I'd start with lemon juice and escalate from there. Outstanding dig!

 

[Scrappy]

Clean that baby and make it shine!!! I've need found a cut silver so I'm green with envy!

Congrats on an amazing find!! A piece of 8 is something special.

Steve

 

[WildWildBill]

Well look at it this way, it has no value right? And if you want to show it off. People need to see it.. Yes we know what it is, but will the OP. Know?
If it was my, it would be bubbling right now. Lol
Oh by the way that is a great find.
George

Actually, it does have value. cleaned or not. As much as $75.....with a for sure date. With a 17 and nothing else....about $40. I have a piece of 8 showing '811'. To me that means 1811. Great condition too.....$75 retail!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Actually, it does have value. cleaned or not. As much as $75.....with a for sure date. With a 17 and nothing else....about $40. I have a piece of 8 showing '811'. To me that means 1811. Great condition too.....$75 retail!

The only value this coin has (since my friend and I don't believe in selling these items we work so hard to find) is its historical value which is priceless in my mind. Especially if you knew where it was found.

 

[basque-man]

That is a nice save. Looks good no matter what you decide to do!

 

[doninbrewster]

I think that's a great find, but it could actually be a contemporary counterfeit cut piece of 8. That would make it far more interesting to me. Either way it's a great find. Nice job!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

I think that's a great find, but it could actually be a contemporary counterfeit cut piece of 8. That would make it far more interesting to me. Either way it's a great find. Nice job!

Don - this is not a reproduction as it was found in very close proximity to heavy, long term Rev War action. It's also been verified as authentic by a colonial coin expert. Definitely the real(e) thing.

 

[Higgy]

Definitely the real(e) thing.

Oh boy!

 

[slowwevo]

lol^

 

[Steve in PA]

Nice find Reid. Those cut 8 Reales don't appear so much in Virginia as the cut 2 Reale pistareens. I believe Bill only has a couple cut from 8 reales out of all his cut pieces. They seem to be more prevalent here in Western PA. Out of my 16 PA found cut pieces, 7 are from 8 Reales.