Monster 1784 8 Reale

[Hunter1805]

I have been detecting for a number of years and it takes a lot to get me excited but today was that day. Finding a 1783 monster silver 8 reale or the proper name 1784 Pau, France, Bearn, Ecu, Louis XVI coin was a thrill. It started when I took my buddy Mike with me to hunt this fur trade site. We headed to the site and had a great time finding musket balls, copper items and silver. Mike found a major keeper, a nice trade silver cone. Folks, this in its self is the find of the day. He was thrilled and I was happy for him and congratulated him on a rare find. This is just one of the many silver items found at this site over the past year. I wanted to check out another location about ¼ mile away and we started walking. We carried the detectors not to waste any time and headed to the site. As we were walking we spotted some very old brick in the field. I made a note of the location and we continued walking to the other site. The site produced just two pewter buttons and still had some potential for another visit once the field gets turned. We headed back to the area of the brick and the fun started. Mike was finding button after button. These were large and very old ones. I set my E-Track to a higher discrimination level not wanting to dig trash because of the lack daylight remaining. I immediately started finding these large buttons many of them pewter. One was the silver plated and the size of a half dollar. None of the buttons had any writing on them. I then get this high pitched tone and started to remove the plug with a shovel. At the bottom of the plug about 10 inches deep was this shiny bottom of a can….no it’s a continental dollar, no it’s a Spanish 8 Reale. It is a monster of a coin stuck to the bottom of the plug. Catching the remaining light of the setting sun, I was in disbelief as I read the date of 1784. I was thrilled as I raised it in the air and Mike from a distance could see this coin. Mike seemed to be as happy as me. He said this is one of his best days of detecting ever. I was glad he was having a great time.
Mike finding the trade silver in its self-made for a super day but walking out with two major silver finds made this a day that I will long remember. It started to get dark. With the site location etched in our minds, we decided to call it a day. The area to be searched is very large and we focused on the area with the brick. As I write the snow starts to fall. When conditions are right we will return to the site. Our hope is that the coin is just one of many hidden with others many years ago waiting to see the light of day once again. … Jim

 

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[hunting deer]

OK, I'm jealous! Congratulations!

 

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[pepperj]

What a great early silver you got, a hunt to remember for sure. Best of luck on the return hunt as it shows some great potential with all the buttons and this awesome silver!

 

[Old Dude]

Abe and I still want to know what the coin is please! And why for my own knowledge are so many silver coins found with holes in them? Were they worn as pendants? Or was there another reason for holing them? Happy New Year everyone!

I think they are " blow holes " for Abe's " secret hiding place " Beez.

 

[Ahab8]

Abe and I still want to know what the coin is please! And why for my own knowledge are so many silver coins found with holes in them? Were they worn as pendants? Or was there another reason for holing them? Happy New Year everyone!

Ok Beez. Holed coins were often worn around the neck. They also were often sewed inside of a coat. A colonist always wanted to be sure they had at least some money with them at all times. Ok now for the last and little known reason. People would put a silver coin in their milk or water to fight off bacteria. You put it on a string and drop it in. Then you can pull it out when you need to. This was done throughout history

 

[Old Dude]

Ok now for the last and little known reason. People would put a silver coin in their milk or water to fight off bacteria. You put it on a string and drop it in. Then you can pull it out when you need to. This was done throughout history

So Brad is on to something when he licks those dirty old silvers? Who knew?[emoji33]

 

[Hunter1805]

Abe and I still want to know what the coin is please! And why for my own knowledge are so many silver coins found with holes in them? Were they worn as pendants? Or was there another reason for holing them? Happy New Year everyone!

[TABLE="class: WCPGCoinStatsTable"]
[TR]
[TH]Specifications [/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Composition: Silver
Fineness: 0.9170
Weight: 29.4880g A US Silver Dollar Weight is 26.73
ASW: 0.8693oz
Melt Value: $13.67 (1/1/2015)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Design [/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Obverse: Uniformed bust left
Obverse Legend: ....RE.BD. (ligate BD).
Reverse: Crowned arms of France within branches
Reverse Legend: SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENEDICTUM
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TH]Notes [/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ruler: Louis XVI Hope this helps ,,,, Jim
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[hunter2665]

Hunter1805. I found this if it helps.

http://coinquest.com/cgi-bin/cq/coins?main_coin=3683

 

[rodarian]

I can't believe just how big that coin is. How could that ever fit in any vending machine is my question...hehe. That's just an awesome find. Huge congrats!

 

[birdman]

That's as good as it gets!

 

[jewelerguy]

wow that's awesome. congrats!

 

[Iron Patch]

Wow that's a huge piece of silver! So what exactly is it fellas?

French King Louis XVI silver 1 ECU struck at the Pau mint.

PAU Mint

 

[CRUSADER]

I want one!

 

[Ahab8]

French King Louis XVI silver 1 ECU struck at the Pau mint.

PAU Mint

Thanks man. That's a giant hunk of silver. I'm assuming much more scarce than Spanish silver. Prob more common in your neck of the woods than mine?

 

[park pirate]

Thats one big silver nice condition to congrats bud...

 

[Iron Patch]

Thanks man. That's a giant hunk of silver. I'm assuming much more scarce than Spanish silver. Prob more common in your neck of the woods than mine?

The full Ecu is pretty rare to find anywhere in North America. We do find the smaller denomination coins, same idea is half real, 1 real, 2 reales... but they are certainly not common, and you pretty much have to be on an early French site to dig one. In my area the Early French settlers actually used Spanish cobs more than silver Ecu coinage.

Here is a 1/12 Ecu. Similar to a 1 Real.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/445016-risk-detecting-newbie.html

 

[Hunter1805]

Thanks for the Comments

Thanks for all the comments. The site locationof the coin is in the area of a Fur Trade site that has a French Presents. Found a few Jesuits rings and some gun parts from a French Pistol. The coin was found near the NY/PA. border and sits above a major stream that seen a lot of canoe travel. Again Thanks
UOTE=Iron Patch;4326419]The full Ecu is pretty rare to find anywhere in North America. We do find the smaller denomination coins, same idea is half real, 1 real, 2 reales... but they are certainly not common, and you pretty much have to be on an early French site to dig one. In my area the Early French settlers actually used Spanish cobs more than silver Ecu coinage.

Here is a 1/12 Ecu. Similar to a 1 Real.


http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/445016-risk-detecting-newbie.html

I




[/QUOTE]

 

[Hunter1805]

Thanks for the Comments

Thanks for all the comments. The site locationof the coin is in the area of a Fur Trade site that has a French Presents. Found a few Jesuits rings and some gun parts from a French Pistol. The coin was found near the NY/PA. border and sits above a major stream that seen a lot of canoe travel. Again Thanks
UOTE=Iron Patch;4326419]The full Ecu is pretty rare to find anywhere in North America. We do find the smaller denomination coins, same idea is half real, 1 real, 2 reales... but they are certainly not common, and you pretty much have to be on an early French site to dig one. In my area the Early French settlers actually used Spanish cobs more than silver Ecu coinage.

Here is a 1/12 Ecu. Similar to a 1 Real.


http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/today-s-finds/445016-risk-detecting-newbie.html

I




[/QUOTE]

 

[UnderMiner]

Wow, what a beauty! Toss it in the treasure chest!

 

[Army of 1]

Congrats H1805 on your killer Silver find , awesome detecting ..cheers Mick

 

[Wildcat1750]

WTG on the big 18th Century silver!