cut coin-reale?

[scratcher]

Hello everyone,

My brother found this cut coin and we are having trouble id'ing it. We narrowed it down to the Mexico mint we think, but can't find the obverse match. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[intimer]

i was thinking carolus III so i looked up this site. looks like the mint mark matches, just scroll down the page four or so coins pictured.
mike

http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinText/Sp-milled.3.html

 

[Monty]

I'm pretty sure quartering coins was the way of making change at one time when not many coins were available. This is a good example. Monty

 

[scratcher]

Thanks for the reply intimer. We agree that the reverse matches pretty well, but it doesn't seem to match on the front? It doesn't appear that the design cuts inward near the 'I' in gratia. What do you think? We aren't really sure that it is a 2 on the back either but could be.

 

[mojjax]

That's a nice find !

http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume3/march05/iotm.cfm

 

[intimer]

yeah, i noticed the difference after hurredly sending my reply. i may try to locate an old guy that knows his stuff on this sort of thing. i will try to get back.
mike

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Nice "piece of eight". Actually it looks like a piece of 2 Reale. I think intimers correct on the Carolus III. It does look kinda funky but I think its a 1781. Look closely you will see part of the 8. Definitely Mexico Mint. I also see the chin and neck but after that it gets skewed. I think it has a waffle type impression on it. You may try posting in the Spanish Cobs forum here.

 

[scratcher]

Thanks BC,

That was what we thought it was at first also. Please explain the 'waffle impression'. Is it some kind of error? Thanks for the help.

 

[Mackaydon]

I agree with BCH; coin should have a diameter (if whole) of 28 mm as a 2R.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks BC,

That was what we thought it was at first also. Please explain the 'waffle impression'. Is it some kind of error? Thanks for the help.

I dont know... just an observation.It appears to have a waffle like impression. I dont know what would cause that. Does it look damaged? Maybe from pliers? Just a guess. Try the cobs forum here.

 

[scratcher]

I too was thinking it could have happened when they were cutting it, but it really doesn't look that way under magnification and there is nothing apparent on the other side. It just looks like part of the original design. It certainly appears under magnification that the low spots of the design are the same height as the rest of the background surface and the higher spots rise above the background. Will try cob section eventually. I'm pretty sure we already know what it is, just why does it look so different?

Thanks

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Silver coins that circulated China were given chopmarks by individual merchants and money changers but this doesnt look like the types I have seen.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_image.aspx?image=an31457.jpg&retpage=17486