Cut piece of a 8 Reale Spanish milled coin, but how?

[smokeythecat]

I have something to throw your way. I dug two cut Spanish milled coins, both pieces from an 8 reale. One has a partial date 1781. I finally got around to taking a close look at them through a loop and something has me puzzled.

The cut edge looks like it was professionally sawed. I do not have a picture at this time, it's too late, but does anyone know HOW they were originally cut into the little pie shapes?

I had assumed they were cut in pieces with a chisel, but not on these two. The cut is too nice and clean. Thanks.

 

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[Mackaydon]

Smokey
Shears or a knife.
Don.......

 

[smokeythecat]

I'll try to get a close up tomorrow if my digital microscope works. That must been a hard thing to do by hand. Must have been a knife on this one.

 

[ARC]

Most times the coin was laid on steady surface ... the knife... axe... whatever edged object at hand... was placed on coin then struck.

I envision... jewelers / silversmiths / goldsmiths also made cuts for those who needed "change".

Sawing "dust" IMO would have been "payment" for cutting services.

But really... when you think about it... whatever tools one may have at hand at the time needed were used to "make change". heh

 

[smokeythecat]

AARC, this is true. I guess I expected to see evidence of the use of a chisel.

 

[ARC]

Most times the coin was laid on steady surface ... the knife... axe... whatever edged object at hand... was placed on coin then struck.

I envision... jewelers / silversmiths / goldsmiths also made cuts for those who needed "change".

Sawing "dust" IMO would have been "payment" for cutting services.

But really... when you think about it... whatever tools one may have at hand at the time needed were used to "make change". heh

PS... I forgot metal smiths / blacksmiths :/
they would have always had a nice surface (anvil) and a lot of sharp edged things for cutting lying about.

I'm sure they always "made their own change".