WOW! never thought I would find one of these!!!!!

Mike from MI

Silver Member
Oct 13, 2007
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2,417
Vicksburg Michigan
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Etrac, Minelab Explorer II, Exterra 30, Fisher CZ-21, and CZ-20
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I have been on many CW hunts out east and have seen many reales found. Always wanted to find one but never figured it would be a "BIG" 8 reales! I met up with some friends to hunt an old park. On our way we came across some street construction in the old part of town. We decided the the park wasn't going anywhere but the construction would be done soon enough. The street was gone and the curbs. The grass areas and sidewalks still remained except for at each intersection, about 10' of sidewalk was gone at the corners. Well a few blocks down I was searching a corner of sidewalk bed and got a good coin hit. I put my hand digger in and out popped a big dark disc. I thought it was a big washer or? Then I noticed an "old" eagle on the back. I knew it was pre Morgan so I thought I had a trade dollar. I soon realized it was an old Spanish 8 Reales. The date is 1832. The sidewalk was laid in 1900 so it had been buried at least 115 years. But since it was about 4" deep in the dark dirt under the sidewalk I think much longer. I had to use electrolysis to clean it up then took it to my coin dealer to authenticate it. I entered it last night in the find of the month contest at our metal detecting club and it won best coin! It's also now my oldest silver. Hope you guys like it as much as I do.
 

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Upvote 33

sutphin

Gold Member
Oct 2, 2013
8,344
4,466
brunswick md
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WHITES 5900, MXT 300, MXT PRO, MXT ALL PRO/ 8X6 SEF COIL
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Relic Hunting
UREAL my friend way to go!!vanzutphen
 

Gridwalker306

Gold Member
Nov 10, 2010
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7,406
Canada
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1
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XP Deus, ATPro
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All Treasure Hunting
Fantastic find. I found one like it here in Kentucky a short time ago at a Union CW camp we have been hunting. The interesting thing to me are the scratches on your coin and mine look a bit alike. Congrats on the nice recovery

JimK

It looks to me like those scratches are an X, where the coin would be cut up to make change.

That's a crazy find, I can't even imagine.
 

CRUSADER

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May 25, 2007
40,879
45,586
ENGLAND
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XP Deus II v0.6 with 11" Coil
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All Treasure Hunting
It looks to me like those scratches are an X, where the coin would be cut up to make change.

That's a crazy find, I can't even imagine.

The X was to check if it were real or plated. I have a feeling looking at the bubbly surfaces that its a period counterfiet.
 

Garrett424

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Jun 20, 2014
3,164
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Granite, Maryland
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Teknetics Omega 8000
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Sweeeet find!!

It's a beautiful coin too. Looks to be in pretty good shape as well.

Congrats.
 

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