Monster 1784 8 Reale

Hunter1805

Sr. Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2005
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Location
NY
Detector(s) used
E Track, Fisher 6a
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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Last edited:
Upvote 43
That's a super find thanks for sharing and congrats on the success.
 

Old large French and Spanish coins are still high on my list...Congrats!!! to you and your buddy...
 

Big congrats on one beautiful looking coin! Thanks for sharing!
 

That's is awesome man. Great story to that coin is huge. I dug one about 5 yrs ago at a foundation site about 12 inches deep. Blew the headphones off the unit
 

That's a fantastic find, much more rare than an 8 reale. I have seen plenty of 8 reales make the banner. This coin should be on the banner. My vote is in.
 

Thanks For the Banner Vote

Steve just wanted to thank you on the Banner Vote. We really ran out of daylight so I am want to believe that another one may exist in the area. Wishful thinking on my part but you never know ... Jim



That's a fantastic find, much more rare than an 8 reale. I have seen plenty of 8 reales make the banner. This coin should be on the banner. My vote is in.
 

You've made me jealous, and that is the mark of quality!

A French silver is now on my list for Louisiana digging in 2015. Doesn't matter what. Half Ecu, quarter Ecu. I just want one.

:)
 

Great coin. I'll bet that one blinded you !!
 

What a great find. I can't imagine finding something like that, especially here down South. 'preciate the story, too. It's like I was walking along with y'all.
 

Congratulations on such an incredible find!!! My banner vote is going in now :)
 

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