Anybody got an ID on this?

[ReidMan]

I think its a cut piece from a 1 reale, it has the spelling of Philippvs with a V instead of a U. Trying to pin down a date. Does the M mean Mexico mint?
Thanks

 

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[cuzcosquirrel]

It looks like a cut pistareen, like a half-real. The weird M on the coin I think is an icon supposedly representing a set of gates in the city of Sergovia, and it is the identifying mark of that mint. They used Latin to spell the King's name on most European coins of this period, thus the V in place of the U.

 

[Mackaydon]

I thought the mint mark for Sergovia was their aquaduct; what would appear to be an 'm' over another 'm'. Either way, this 'M' looks unusual.

 

[cuzcosquirrel]

It could be an auquaduct. My source was just a general hobbiest site.

 

[Mackaydon]

The coin is from one of the two reigns of Philip the 5th; either between 1700 and 1724 or between (later in) 1724 to 1746. The date is not on the 1/4 portion of the coin you hold.
You can determine the denomination of your coin since a full 8-reales weighs just a hair over 27 grams.
I'm assuming the 'M' is from Mexico City.
Don.....

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is it silver?

 

[Mackaydon]

If it is, it should be .916 fine.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont know much about these Pistareens but here is a coin in the banner to compare. The mint mark looks funky. Werent they all minted in Spain as they were never intended for use in the colonies? http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,279674.html

 

[Mackaydon]

If the coin is a pistareen, it had a lower silver content [.833 fine] than the full-value, internationally esteemed Spanish colonial reales that dominated worldwide trade.

 

[BuckleBoy]

If the coin is a pistareen, it had a lower silver content [.833 fine] than the full-value, internationally esteemed Spanish colonial reales that dominated worldwide trade.

Absolutely correct. The pistareens were "debased" currency with a lower silver content.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Its definitely a Pistareen. So I think that means it cannot be minted in Mexico. Here are the banner coins to compare several different "M" mint marks.

Reidman take a pic next to a quarter so we can determine the size. thanks.

 

[Mackaydon]

Madrid seems reasonable though the shape of the M seems too 'structured' when seen next to other Madrid mintmarks as shown 845 and 846 here:
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cach...intmark+Pistareen&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&ie=UTF-8