Just noticed an unusual edge design on my cut silver found on Wed

[Bill D. (VA)]

Just happened to notice this morning that the 1736 cut silver coin I found the other day has a cool and unusual looking edge design. I checked with a number of my other cut pieces and all of them were just a plain edge. Has anyone ever seen this feature on a similar coin? Must be some kind of a personalized thing. Very strange indeed, but I like it.

 

[John Boy]

Man that's pretty cool.good eye.That's some great detailed work.

 

[teak]

I also found one on Wed afternoon same cut as your coin, only mine is a "37" and worn, but I can see some of the same detail on the edge of mine as well.

 

[Steve in PA]

Bill, a lot of my Spanish has edge designs, especially the 8 reales. But I do have smaller denominations with edge designs. Maybe I will get some pictures this weekend if I remember. That one you have there was in real nice shape when it was cut and lost.

 

[matt092079]

That's a cool edge, Bill! My 1774 cut 2 reale had a cool edge design as well. Picture below.

 

[cz70pro]

Very nice. They did this to prevent"shaving" the edges for thier precious metal content.

 

[granthansen]

Very cool and informative post!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Very nice. They did this to prevent"shaving" the edges for thier precious metal content.

I didn't think that practice started until a little later. I'm intrigued, though, since others are showing similar designs on coins they've dug. But this is the only one I have like this out of about 140 colonial silver coins I've recovered. So it must have been a fairly rare (and maybe personalized) practice. Would like to hear what others have to say.

 

[Silver Worm]

Interesting...

 

[Goes4ever]

now that is a sweet dig!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Bill, take a look at only the high-grade Spanish coins you've found. Most of mine over the years did not have edge design (and half reales will not have them, but 1 reales and larger might). However, the nice condition ones have had edge designs. Most of those that did were later coins, hence the "dot and dash" pattern. Best Wishes, Buck

 

[Steve in PA]

Bill, a lot of my Spanish has edge designs, especially the 8 reales. But I do have smaller denominations with edge designs. Maybe I will get some pictures this weekend if I remember. That one you have there was in real nice shape when it was cut and lost.

Bill, I took a look at some of my Spanish, one real and higher. I forgot to look at some half reals. I'm convinced they all started with edge designs. Here are some examples of eight reales, two reales, and one real. There are pistereens, pillers, and portrait styles represented in these pictures.

 

[TomPA]

Bill, Any more thoughts on the edge designs?