8 reale need information

[jamesbibb]

Found this was wondering about the mint-mark and counter-stamps I thiknk the date is awsome

 

[lazooro]

LOOKS LIKE POTOSI BOLIVIA KM#55
GREETINGS

 

[Mackaydon]

I can't read the mint mark, but I agree with LaZ that if the coin is New World, it's Bolivian since they had the "PR" assayer (between 1776 and 1795).
Don.....

 

[jamesbibb]

I am assuming these are the 2 letters following the 8R This is where the coin was made or assayed rather

 

[Mackaydon]

James:'
Yes, those are the assayer's marks; the mintmark (such as it is) lies between the "X" and "8". Here's what the Potosi mintmark looks like: http://www.coinarchives.com/7895faafe9bd93ff488f9b938d0a07ae/img/stacks/stacks_jan10/image01101.jpg

Don.....

 

[jamesbibb]

what an interesting coin
the history behind that is amazing to me
if only that coin could talk

 

[Mackaydon]

And what you refer to as 'counter stamps' may well be 'chop marks'; marks on coins made after minting to authentice the value of the coin. What appears to be a 'I' letter on the 'face' side of your coin and the 'cross' mark near the base of left column on the other side, might be chop marks-- that are usually associated with Spanish coins that circulated in the Orient.

 

[Mackaydon]

Here's one like yours (same face value, date and mint mark) currently for sale.
Highest bid now is $76.75 with about 5 hours to go.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1776-PR-Bolivia...CK&otn=10&po=&ps=63&clkid=8048926344271634999

 

[lazooro]

James:'
Yes, those are the assayer's marks; the mintmark (such as it is) lies between the "X" and "8". Here's what the Potosi mintmark looks like: http://www.coinarchives.com/7895faafe9bd93ff488f9b938d0a07ae/img/stacks/stacks_jan10/image01101.jpg

Don.....

yup that's the right mintmark :-)