Help with this Ohio- Spanish 1790 Half Reale IV - A Transition coin? UPDATED

[SoreKneesDayton]

Hi Gang ,

Just found this today 23 Nov 09 at a soccer field in Germantown Ohio:
1790 Half Spanish Reale with Mexico mint--
I think

This is the size of dime and very thin. It is in good shape but a little dented. What a surprise to find this in the center circle in a soccer field. It was down just 2". Reading was jumping around so I dug it as I found gold last week in the center circle. It showed silver on the edge and I thought it was a merc dime then --BOWWoooWW a spanish coin. This is amazing for Ohio detecting.

Help! I can not find this coin online for a price. Mine is a "IV" whereas the ones shown for a half Reale is IIII?

I posted this under "What is it" section too.

Here is another view with LED light.

UPDATE from Nick A in Ohio

Congrats on a super find!

In 1789, Charles III died and his son, Charles IV succeeded him.

Apparently both the Carolus IIII and Carolus IV varieties exist for the Mexico City mint. The portrait of Charles the III was used with the legend Carolus IV for about a year in 1789 and 1790 following the death of Charles III. In 1790 the legend was changed to Carolus IIII.

Notes in the Krause world coin book under KM64 may shed more light on this.

However, it does look like you have one of the transitional coins with the bust of (large nose) Charles III and the motto of Charles IV.

I am attaching a picture of the transitional coin of Charles IV with bust of Charles III (looks like yours)
[attachment=0]bust1.jpg[/attachment]

and then the coin with the motto and portrait of Charles IIII.
[attachment=1]bust2.jpg[/attachment]

While an old coin, it is worn and bent. Not a whole lot of value, probably worth less than $20, but way better than another memorial cent!

SKD

 

[BandB1]

Re: Ohio Spanish 1790 Half Reale IV Help

Congrats nice find!

I found a 2 reale yesterday, and I'm no expert, I posted the reverse upside down. Though I

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did notice I was turning my head sideways trying to read yours. I did read that there

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was a problem in supplying Mexico City w/ new dies for Charles the 4th, so they used

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the old dies and added a roman I to the III, and used Charles the 3rds portrait. I think

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they started making 'em IV in 1791. As for value, no idea.

Good luck,
HH.

 

[BandB1]

Re: Ohio Spanish 1790 Half Reale IV Help

Oops, Sorry, mine is a IIII, so obviously they made 'em IV a little earlier than 1790.

Good luck,
HH.

 

[minton7]

Re: Ohio Spanish 1790 Half Reale IV Help

WOW Terry.... You are the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People outside of Ohio can not appreciate how rare the reales are here... I have one from 1810

 

[SoreKneesDayton]

Re: Ohio Spanish 1790 Half Reale IV Help

WOW Terry.... You are the man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! People outside of Ohio can not appreciate how rare the reales are here... I have one from 1810

Thanks Randy and you are right about the rareness of a reale. Jeff was thrilled for my find. I think he said/cursed something about "I wonder what Mr Lucky found again?"

I said my prayer of thanks immediately. I am so thrilled!

 

[SoreKneesDayton]

A big hand and thank you to Nick A in Ohio for the info on my coins variation/transition coin.

SKD

 

[Nana40]

OH my gosh, Dayton! How crazy cool is that!!!! And in the middle of the ball field! I know you're thrilled over that one!

Many congrats to ya!!

Nana

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Great find, wonder what was at that ball field in the past

 

[daytondigger]

Congratulations on joining the "Spanish silver club" Terry!! Two of the Dayton Diggers found Spanish silver this year, I'm still waiting for mine.

 

[CRUSADER]

bump.

One day I may join your club

 

[Bell-Two]

Congratulations my friend on such a find...goes to show if you keep digging you never know what will turn up! Keep hunting those fields.

 

[Kirk PA]

Ohio is old. The 1700s coins should be there.

Kirk

 

[HCW]

Great find, wonder what was at that ball field in the past

typically new fields are graded with fill brought in from another location but not always .so you never know.

 

[Brian(upstateNY-Central Fla.)]

Nice silver and like Kirk said Ohio is old and there are older coins there just have to walk over em to find em

 

[romeo-1]

Nice find...must have been a recent lost given that your found it on a soccer turf at 2 inches. Kid's lucky charm?

 

[SoreKneesDayton]

Nice find...must have been a recent lost given that your found it on a soccer turf at 2 inches. Kid's lucky charm?

I hear you but consider this. The soil here is gravel and clay so it may not have sunk much and I think it was laying flat in the hole when I opened the plug.

It is an extremely light coin too as it is only .875 silver. Also, it is just smaller than a dime and twice as thin.

What I am saying is that it could have just "floated" on the clay and gravel base and really only been 2" down.

I will go back again when I recover from hospital emergency run "Very bad nose bleed" and see if maybe there was a house there at one time in early 1800's. I have coins in my pocket 40 years old so...maybe they did back then too. Most of the town formed in 1815. Or, they were into early colonial soccer--kick the pumpkin and run. I favor the pumpkin kickers theory--Go Big Orange!!

SKD

 

[romeo-1]

Nice find...must have been a recent lost given that your found it on a soccer turf at 2 inches. Kid's lucky charm?

I hear you but consider this. The soil here is gravel and clay so it may not have sunk and I think it was laying flat in the hole.

It is an extremely light coin too as it is only .875. silver. Also, it is just smaller than a dime and twice as thin.

What I am saying is that it could have just "floated" on the clay and gravel base and really only been 2" down.

I will go back again and see if maybe there was a house there at one time in early 1800's. I have coins in my pocket 40 years old so...maybe they did back then too. Or, they were into early colonial soccer--kick the pumpkin and run. I favor the pumpkin kickers theory--Go Big Orange!!

SKD

I was thinking recent drop only because it was found on the soccer field. Soccer fields usually require the land to be graded and leveled before putting down topsoil and sod/grass seed. Of couse if you could show that there was a homesite there contemporary to the find that would point back to an era drop. Here's hoping...and GO BIG ORANGE!

 

[hikeinmts]

If it is from fill, or if it is leveling that got down that close, both are winners in your book. Could be much much more. And, if
you find out that there was, indeed, a farm/house there early on, then look for the really big old trees, a hillside nearby. Hope there is much much more for you to let us know about later.
Great find!!!