What kind of coin is this ?--updated

[dcinffxva]

I found these on the beach in North Carolina two days ago. I'm not a coin guy, so looking for a little help on identification. The one appears to be Chinese, or Korean, and the other I have no clue. Anyone have any ideas ?


********updated information******

Per BigCypress's suggestion, I took it to a coin dealer who tested it and told me that it is a silver alloy, but did not know what the percentage was. I don't know what kind of testing he did, as he took it in the back of his shop. He could have been just humoring me, as he seemed like my visit to his shop was an inconvenience to him.

He did say that he thought it was a legitimate coin, but then stated that he does not deal in "ancients" and had no idea what it's origin was. So, at this point, I really don't know for a fact anything more. My next stop will be a pawn shop, and see if they can give me a better idea as to what the silver content is.

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[Mackaydon]

Spanish, but not from Mexico. More guesses: 2 reales, about 93% silver (assuming 'real') Mint Mark: "S".

[Ed-NH]

The one with the hole in may be a Chinese token.

[cwdigger]

Is the 1st picture real? I cannot see it very well but a 2 reale does some resemblance, dont think thats what it is though

[ivan salis]

the first one is old and is spanish -- the second one more modern and is japanese or korean I forget which one

[Bigcypresshunter]

The first coin is indeed Spanish. It is the Shield Type: The second type of Spanish colonial silver coin design in the New World. Struck at the Mexico, Santo Domingo, Lima, La Plata, Potosi, Panama, Cartagena, and Bogotá mints in the time period of 1572 to 1734.
Design Characteristics: Hand struck cob, typically degrading in quality throughout the period. One side has a crowned multi-element shield representing the lands under Spanish control. The other side displays a cross with lions and castles in the four quadrants.

Unfortunately yours appears to be a replica. Is it silver or pot metal?

Compare to some real reales:

[Bigcypresshunter]

Ivan is right, the second coin with the rice design is a Japanese 5 YEN.

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/aoyagi/kenji/...n/japan_e.html

[ivan salis]

so as you can see I know my coins fairly well -- but theres lots and lots of differant types of coins out there --- every now and then I run across a real "stumper" and then the fun begins. --"S" mint mark santo domingo mint --tbeing its about quarter sized might be a 2 reale type coin --ie two bits

[BuckleBoy]

Unfortunately yours appears to be a replica. Is it silver or pot metal?

Do you think it's a copy because of an anomaly in the design or just the coloration?

Silver oxidizes in salt water--and I've seen some recovered that look this color. I think dcin should post this in the Spanish Cob forum.

(I'm not refuting you here BigCy--just playing devil's advocate.)

Regards,


Buckleboy

[relichunters]

Yeah it looks spanish to me. I've seen a few online

[ivan salis]

hard to tell metal make up silver or copper ?

[Bigcypresshunter]

Unfortunately yours appears to be a replica. Is it silver or pot metal?

Do you think it's a copy because of an anomaly in the design or just the coloration?

Silver oxidizes in salt water--and I've seen some recovered that look this color. I think dcin should post this in the Spanish Cob forum.

(I'm not refuting you here BigCy--just playing devil's advocate.)

Regards,


Buckleboy

It just looks fake to me... no detail... I havent seen many real ones, but I have seen a lot of replicas. . I have found more replicas, myself, on the beach than I have real.
Also, very little sand stuck to it after 300 years in a salt water environment, no corrosion... it should be more black, not grey. Pictures can be deceiving, though. I still say replica.

If its not solid silver, then it is a replica, for sure.

Post in cob forum is good idea.

[dcinffxva]

It appears to be silver, but lacks the luster of silver that I've found in the dirt. It "rings" nicely when dropped on a table, so it definitley isn't lead, or pot metal. I also wondered about it being a replica, but can't think of any reason it would have been on a beach. It could be that someones dad could have tossed some out in the sand for his kids to find though. I did see some replicas for sale on E-bay, but they are all marked "copy".

Where is the Spanish Cob forum ? I will post pics there as well.

[Bigcypresshunter]

It appears to be silver, but lacks the luster of silver that I've found in the dirt. It "rings" nicely when dropped on a table, so it definitley isn't lead, or pot metal. I also wondered about it being a replica, but can't think of any reason it would have been on a beach. It could be that someones dad could have tossed some out in the sand for his kids to find though. I did see some replicas for sale on E-bay, but they are all marked "copy".

Where is the Spanish Cob forum ? I will post pics there as well.

Here it is: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/board,332.0.html

I really hope Im wrong.

Do you really think its silver?

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here is a picture #1 of a gold colored pot metal replica found on the beach by a TN member. Looks very similar to #2 unkown.



ADDED: #3& #4 genuine silver reale. You will notice the details of circled area.

[dcinffxva]

It appears to be silver, but lacks the luster of silver that I've found in the dirt. It "rings" nicely when dropped on a table, so it definitley isn't lead, or pot metal. I also wondered about it being a replica, but can't think of any reason it would have been on a beach. It could be that someones dad could have tossed some out in the sand for his kids to find though. I did see some replicas for sale on E-bay, but they are all marked "copy".

Where is the Spanish Cob forum ? I will post pics there as well.

Here it is: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/board,332.0.html

I really hope Im wrong.

Do you really think its silver?

I hope you're wrong too

When I pulled it out of the sand, my first impression was replica, until I dropped it on the shovel, and heard the ring tone. I believe in the "if something doesn't look right, it probably isn't" theory though, and that's why I'm posting it here. Unlike some of the other folks, I'm not going to get my feelings hurt if someone expresses their opinion.

I'm a Civil War digger, not a beach digger, so I welcome opinions on those things not within my usual scope. I just happened to go to the beach, and decided to take the detector. This was my first time working the sand, so either I was incredibly lucky, or I wasn't

[BuckleBoy]

I see what you're saying, BigCy. I'm usually skeptical about finds until completely ID'ed... but I was only about 80% convinced on this one.

I see what you're saying with the photo. The Cob forum will steer you in the right direction.


Best Wishes,


Buckleboy

[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks cast.

The originals are hammered.

I am afraid to say with 100 percent certainty unless I have in hand. That he thinks it is silver, has me confused a bit. A silver replica perhaps?

[dcinffxva]

I can't say for sure that it is silver. I can say for sure that it isn't lead.

It has a nice weight to it, but I don't have a scale that can weigh it in grams. I'll ask around at work and see if anyone does.

I looked closely around the edges for any casting seams, and don't see any, but that doesn't mean that they couldn't have been sanded, or otherwise removed.

I posted pics over on the Cob forum (Thanks BigC), so will continue to check in over there.

Any easy tests to determine if it is actually silver that won't cause any damage ?

[Bigcypresshunter]

Any easy tests to determine if it is actually silver that won't cause any damage ?

A pawn shop could test or you can but a test kit from Kellyco.

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/Dete...drecovery2.htm