8 REALES "MEDALLION" FOUND AT BASEMENT HOLE SITE

relicmeister

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Stopped at a favorite local spot on the way home from work, and was working over a trashy spot when I popped-up this holed 8 Reales fr om
only 2-inches deep. The 8R was removed when it was holed (why there I can't say) I only used hot water, soap and a bristle brush on it.
The gouges on one side were there since they have the same patina as the rest of the coin.
I found this (lighter) not far from the Reale last week. I've been hunting this spot for months but have avoided the trashy areas-an obvious mistake! Can anyone tell me how common an 8 Reales is?
Thanks for lookin. and HH
Relicmeister
 

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Upvote 9

Evolution

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Great find. They certainly don't turn up every day. I'm no expert but it looks like it might be counterfeit. Doesn't look to be silver. Maybe it's just the lighting of the picture. A counterfeit 8 Reale would be an awesome find as well. Congrats!:hello2:
 

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relicmeister

relicmeister

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I don't think it is silver, and have no idea what they should be either. It appears to be copper-It rang up at 86 on my detector and in comparison the large cent I found gave a reading of 88.
 

CoinandRelicMan

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Maybe that is a tooth-mark on the coin? Failed the bite test and so was dropped?
 

terpfan

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Sure looks counterfeit, which would be all right by me. Its not every day that someone posts a contemporary counterfeit 8 reales. Congratulations on the terrific find!
 

VERMONTIS

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I like the idea of counterfeit,looks copper,if it's c.f. I'll bet they made a lot less. That would make it a rare find!!!! NICE FIND!!!=ED
 

MUD(S.W.A.T)

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That hole looks silver, maybe its just badly tarnished....?? Stick it in some electrolysis (Kids ask parents or adults) give it a good scrub down again and maybe it will shine up !! Its holed, damaged, and possibly counterfeit..... You have nothing to loose !! I'm betting it will shine up cause I swear that hole looks silver !! No matter what way you go or whatever it is, its still a cool find !!

Keep @ it and HH !!





(Disclaimer: Electrolysis is dangerous, kids ask your parents..!! Coin collectors, be careful may damage some delicate coins or you can also over cook them.... Use at your own risk, I'm NOT responsible for "ANYTHING" that may go wrong)
 

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jewelerguy

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looks real enough. interesting to note though is that hole looks to be drilled perhaps with an actual drill bit. it appears to be perfectly round and has a burr on one side, either entry or exit of the bit. most holed coins of the period that I've ever seen look to have been pierced rather than drilled. like hammering a nail through it for example.
 

CRUSADER

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Agreed, looks solid silver to me. Nice find, they are not common & Dad & I have never had one. Other than 1 counterfiet.
 

calisdad

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Nice finds! I interpreted the burr to be from being worn on a chain for a long time. I don't think drilling would do that to both sides.

Very nice lighter. I believe they are called 'tank lighters'. I have a couple of them somewhere but not as ornate.
 

Erik in NJ

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My first impression was that it might be cast and thus a counterfeit, but it's hard to tell from the photos. Wet it and wrap it tightly in aluminum foil a few times and it should get warm and start to dissolve the oxides if it's silver. Then rub some baking soda and water slurry on it with your fingers and post another pic. If it's silver this will clean it up well.
 

woodstock

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Where does it look silver ? I've dug lot's of old silver and none was colored like this or pitted either ... stained /tarnished yes but not pitted and colored like this ... maybe it's just that the ground conditions I had were different ... NICE FIND never the less ... IMHO , Woodstock
Agreed, looks solid silver to me. Nice find, they are not common & Dad & I have never had one. Other than 1 counterfiet.
 

CRUSADER

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Where does it look silver ? I've dug lot's of old silver and none was colored like this or pitted either ... stained /tarnished yes but not pitted and colored like this ... maybe it's just that the ground conditions I had were different ... NICE FIND never the less ... IMHO , Woodstock

All over. I might of seen the odd silver like it.:laughing7:
 

woodstock

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Your answers seems to need more clarification . From the looks of your picture and some of the other members reply's you're convinced it's silver yet I see nothing that looks to be silver . And Crusader ... you see solid silver , based on that ? I see copper , solid copper . Now I've seen silver tarnished black and when properly stored (cased) maybe different color hews but never as pitted and the color of tarnished copper . And the drilled hole has no silver that I can see by the photos unless your looking at different pictures . Also consider the weird pit on top of the head , what would you call it and why does it have the same copper patina as the rest of the coin . If it was from a bite the biter must have broke their tooth . And the bite test was for gold coins and I never seen any coins that had bite mark even after going to many coin shows . And the bottom face side has a swirl mark indicating it was drilled or there was a attempt to drill it there first that failed .... it even rings up as copper so come on everyone that see's silver tell me how you came to that conclusion ... HH , Woodstock
 

Erik in NJ

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Hi RM....just curious since I saw your post and excellent find again on the first page. Did you try the trick with the aluminum foil at all? Please let us know as to what this coin ended up being. Real or counterfeit--a great find!!

My first impression was that it might be cast and thus a counterfeit, but it's hard to tell from the photos. Wet it and wrap it tightly in aluminum foil a few times and it should get warm and start to dissolve the oxides if it's silver. Then rub some baking soda and water slurry on it with your fingers and post another pic. If it's silver this will clean it up well.
 

BuckleBoy

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Doesn't really make a whit of difference whether it is a contemporary counterfeit or a silver one in that condition. The big thing is--IT'S AN EIGHT REALES!!!


Great find!


-Buck
 

romeo-1

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Looks like silver to me! In fact, the second 8 reale I dug had a similar patina...
 

CMDiamonddawg

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Yes , a big ol' 8 Eight reale

:skullflag: damn , is the hole big enough ???

still a fantastic basement find :cake:
 

woodstock

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Would you mind posting a picture of the exact reale before and after you cleaned it ? I don't doubt your dug one , I'd just like to compare the Patina you claim is the same . Because I have never seen Silver accumulate patina in the color of copper patina when buried in the ground for as long as this one must have been . And I do want to see something to compare it too. If you still have it then post it so all of us who don't see Silver can see how it looks the same ....I've been detecting since 1981 and still have yet to dig Silver in this color ... IMHO , Woodstock
Looks like silver to me! In fact, the second 8 reale I dug had a similar patina...
 

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