It's fake right?

[Kapidr]

What type of coin is this and...

It is silver. Found on the beach. I think it's stamped in the corner though with the word Bahamas. Weighs 1.23 grams and is about the size of a dime.

Is it real or is it fake? What has me wondering is I found it in the same spot I'm finding old bronze ship nails.

Thanks

 

[Kapidr]

I'm not sure it's "Bahamas" either. I can't make a good alternative guess as to what it might say but the "B" may not be a "B", the "H" may not be an "H" and the "S" might not even be a letter at all.

Thanks will do. Here's a better picture (I hope) of the word Bahamas.

 

[Kapidr]

1 - I don't think BAHAMAS is the word.
2 - A manufacturer of jewelry-grade repros would not place the hole so close to the edge.

Get it checked by an expert.

Thanks, Here's a better picture (I hope) of the word "Bahamas"

 

[Kapidr]

I have some I found in my safe deposit box but it has been a long time since I actually held one in my hand and inspected them. I notice the Mexico mint mark but isn't that a gold escudo? Im just going by my fading memory lol.

View attachment 1829740View attachment 1829741

NICE COIN you have there! I don't know what this one is. My friend found a 2 escudo but they have eluded me! I have found several real Spanish silver coins over the years though including an 8 Real. But never one that looked quite like this...

 

[Kapidr]

You are correct, on the photo the oM is the mexico city mint mark

Thanks

My 1715 fleet Mexico City silver cob. Its a different cross


View attachment 1829743

Nice!

If you are buying it then it is fake, if you are selling it then it is unauthenticated, all sales final.

Actually BAHAMAS might be what collectors call a counter stamp. it could be worth more because of it.

Interesting! Thanks!

I believe that is a Catholic cross.

Well, silver is still silver!

Indeed

 

[Doubter in MD]

It obviously says, "BANANAS". Now I'm hungry.

Thank you for taking the time to post clearer pictures. I see BAHAMAS more clearly now.

 

[Kapidr]

It obviously says, "BANANAS". Now I'm hungry.

Thank you for taking the time to post clearer pictures. I see BAHAMAS more clearly now.

Thanks now ya got me hungry

 

[EccentricInTexas]

That hole in it is pretty clean. I do see the "Bahama" on the top edge of the right photo. They did counter stamp stuff a lot back in the day. First we need to figure out what the coin is and then see if you can find any others whether they are reproductions or originals.

 

[EccentricInTexas]

I believe it may be a Silver plated tourist piece. Its probably pewter or some other metal. The coin looks like the gold 8 Escudos preproduction that Kellyco was selling some time ago. But I would have coin shop look at it to be sure.

 

[Kapidr]

I believe it may be a Silver plated tourist piece. Its probably pewter or some other metal. The coin looks like the gold 8 Escudos preproduction that Kellyco was selling some time ago. But I would have coin shop look at it to be sure.

It's definitely not plated. The rest though may be true.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Its not a counterstamp! They didn't stamp lettering like that in the Spanish colonial period. Its a tourist coin possibly made in the Bahamas. It wasnt made to fool anybody. It looks like a "replica" gold Escudo but there is no such thing as a gold escudo made from silver. Its a tourist jewelry piece. Its a cool find but its not an authentic Spanish coin. If you dont believe me post in the Spanish cob forum they will tell you real quick and then post the results back here. TY. Cool find though.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks like these Mexico City mint gold 8 Escudos except for 2 obvious problems. Yours is not gold and it has BAHAMAS cast into the coin in modern letter fonts. That means its a fantasy coin, sold with a bahamas mark, not meant to fool anybody. If its not pewter, it could have been made from silver as a tourist jewelry piece. https://www.ebay.com/itm/MEXICO-171...036759?hash=item44270e7bd7:g:rcoAAOSwZ9xbkANn

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

If it was an authentic gold 8 escudos gold coin, it would be worth about 50 grand. Unfortunately its just a cool fantasy piece.

 

[jewelerguy]

almost looks like the counter stamp says 'Panama'

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The gold plating may have worn off. Ive been doing some research and escudos from this era, with these markings are definitely supposed to be gold. Im surprised nobody has said nice catch or good ID lol. But thats really all we need to know. A gold escudo made from silver cant be anything but fantasy.

There are similar Mexico City gold fakes in Sedwicks database but with a modern BAHAMAS mark, its not counterfeit or fake, as it wasnt meant to fool anybody and for this reason will not be depicted in Sedwicks database of fakes. And the maker does not need to cast COPY into a fantasy jewelry piece. https://www.sedwickcoins.com/fake_cobs.htm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Here is a side by side comparison with a similar Mexican gold escudo fake from Sedwicks database just to compare the cross and markings. But like I said there would be no reason for Sedwicks to post a fantasy coin in their database. Just showing that this coin should be gold if its intentions were to fool anyone..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

almost looks like the counter stamp says 'Panama'

Its not a counter stamp! Its not even a coin. It was most likely made with the original casting of a modern bahamas silver tourist souvenir or necklace based on an early 18th century Spanish gold escudo. (aka Made in Bahamas)

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I believe that is a Catholic cross.

I have heard it referred to as the Jerusalem cross. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_cross

 

[Red-Coat]

This may not be relevant, but there is a company called ‘Coin of the Realm’ based in Nassau in the Bahamas. In response to an enquiry on another website, they answered:

Thank you for your inquiry. We have Silver Bahamian coins from $55, gold Bahamian coins start at $595, Spanish ship wreck coins from $1795.00. We also have reproduction coins made from the bars of silver and copper found on the Atocha shipwreck. We have an extremely large selection of coins and would be happy to assist you further with your selection.

Their website only covers a tiny selection of the things they say they can supply (and who knows what they might have been supplying in the past), and gives no indication of how their reproductions are marked.

Coin of The Realm ? Exquisite Jewellery and Gift Items in Nassau, Bahamas

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It may have been made from shipwreck silver. I searched but cannot find any replica or fantasy coins with the BAHAMAS mark. Its a 20th century mark or later for sure.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Coins ? Coin of The Realm



Keep in mind this is a $40,000 coin if authentic and no way would they punch a hole or stamp BAHAMAS on an authentic gold escudos. Its hard to believe they would even deface a gold replica coin made from shipwreck silver. Some company cast this coin with their BAHAMAS mark. We just havent been able to find the company that made it or another example.