My Spanish Grandaddy

[Joe-Dirt]

Out with a buddy today at one of our older permissions in the rain and fog covering some ground we’ve lightly hit before. He has never dug a Spanish Reale and has seen me and my other buddies dig several so he’s digging everything. About a half hour into the hunt, he digs a 19-20 on his equinox 800 and out pops a toasted half Reale, the only thing I could make out was the Roman numeral lll, but being so thin there’s a 95% chance it is a half Reale. He’s going to soak it a little as it was covered in thick mud and other spooge. Anyway, after that he dug copper after copper, 5 total, 4 braided hair and a KGll. I’m starting to get pissed because I’ve dug what I think is a flying eagle, a 8” deep clad quarter and hundreds of beaver tails. We switched fields and I started finding some things, a livery button, V nickel, Connecticut copper and some other debris. Then I got a choppy 58 on my Deus ll, dug it, busted tombac button and I probably busted it. So, disgusted in myself, I took a big swing with my machine and I got a bangin’ deep 91, I said to myself “ here comes another deep clad quarter” so I popped the plug and I saw a giant silver disc and I actually thought it was a washer or some other aluminum doohicky until I gave it a wipe and saw 1774 looking back at me. A really nice 8 Reale, never in a million years did I ever think I would dig a coin like this, I’m still in disbelief.
Happy hunting

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

What a very rare and fantastic find - a big congrats !

 

[ArfieBoy]

Great recovery! Thanks for sharing. Congrats!

 

[Digger RJ]

Out with a buddy today at one of our older permissions in the rain and fog covering some ground we’ve lightly hit before. He has never dug a Spanish Reale and has seen me and my other buddies dig several so he’s digging everything. About a half hour into the hunt, he digs a 19-20 on his equinox 800 and out pops a toasted half Reale, the only thing I could make out was the Roman numeral lll, but being so thin there’s a 95% chance it is a half Reale. He’s going to soak it a little as it was covered in thick mud and other spooge. Anyway, after that he dug copper after copper, 5 total, 4 braided hair and a KGll. I’m starting to get pissed because I’ve dug what I think is a flying eagle, a 8” deep clad quarter and hundreds of beaver tails. We switched fields and I started finding some things, a livery button, V nickel, Connecticut copper and some other debris. Then I got a choppy 58 on my Deus ll, dug it, busted tombac button and I probably busted it. So, disgusted in myself, I took a big swing with my machine and I got a bangin’ deep 91, I said to myself “ here comes another deep clad quarter” so I popped the plug and I saw a giant silver disc and I actually thought it was a washer or some other aluminum doohicky until I gave it a wipe and saw 1774 looking back at me. A really nice 8 Reale, never in a million years did I ever think I would dig a coin like this, I’m still in disbelief.
Happy hunting

Awesome!!! Congrats!!!

 

[Gene Mean]

Great hunt! Congrats on the giant silver!

 

[pepperj]

Congratulations on the big 8.
I'd love to see one of those in the dirt one day.

 

[iAmMike]

A banging recovery, 16 times that of your buddies measly 1/2. 🤣

 

[Silvermonkey]

Epic, epic find! That coin is pretty much on top of my " white whale " list. Congratulations Joe- Dirt!!!!!

 

[Almy]

Great for you! I've been detecting for a Spanish 8 for over 25 years and finally bought one just so I could see and feel it! The other coins you are finding are neat too. A fine old site.

 

[lenmac65]

8 Reales!! Holy smokes!! I say BANNER on that one. I don’t recall the last time I saw a Spanish silver of that size and age posted. Congrats on finding such a glorious old silver.

 

[IHC656]

I dream of finding one of these. Congratulations!

 

[mjb Mike]

amazing i vote banner also

 

[fishstick]

Ba Ba Ba BANNER!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Joe-Dirt]

Here it is after a warm water bath, must have been dropped when it was fairly new, very crispy details

 

[GaRebel1861]

That's going to be a hard find to top. Congratulations on that one and a Banner vote from me. - Good luck.

 

[Hunk-a-lead]

Out with a buddy today at one of our older permissions in the rain and fog covering some ground we’ve lightly hit before. He has never dug a Spanish Reale and has seen me and my other buddies dig several so he’s digging everything. About a half hour into the hunt, he digs a 19-20 on his equinox 800 and out pops a toasted half Reale, the only thing I could make out was the Roman numeral lll, but being so thin there’s a 95% chance it is a half Reale. He’s going to soak it a little as it was covered in thick mud and other spooge. Anyway, after that he dug copper after copper, 5 total, 4 braided hair and a KGll. I’m starting to get pissed because I’ve dug what I think is a flying eagle, a 8” deep clad quarter and hundreds of beaver tails. We switched fields and I started finding some things, a livery button, V nickel, Connecticut copper and some other debris. Then I got a choppy 58 on my Deus ll, dug it, busted tombac button and I probably busted it. So, disgusted in myself, I took a big swing with my machine and I got a bangin’ deep 91, I said to myself “ here comes another deep clad quarter” so I popped the plug and I saw a giant silver disc and I actually thought it was a washer or some other aluminum doohicky until I gave it a wipe and saw 1774 looking back at me. A really nice 8 Reale, never in a million years did I ever think I would dig a coin like this, I’m still in disbelief.
Happy hunting

Big time gratz!! What a coin and what a save. Really happy for you

 

[dave_e]

Great find!
Any time you need to put a smile on your face, recalling this extraction should do it!

 

[xr7ator]

Love that big ol'Spanish! Nice and banner!

 

[oldmxrat]

Wow, what a beauty! Those don't pop up very often and that one is super crisp, congrats!

BANNER!

 

[jewelerguy]

Awesome find. Congrats!