Old coin?

neuseman · Apr 6, 2011

This is the coin I found the other day. Can anybody tell what it is?

neuseman · Apr 6, 2011

Sorry about the big pictures. I will try to resize them!

Dig em all · Apr 7, 2011

Looks like spanish reale, That someone used on a necklace.

ivan salis · Apr 7, 2011

pillar and waves era spanish cob type coin - with its # tic tac toe design -- 78 P -- on the bottom row means --1678 -Potosi mint :wink:

-- the top middle row number is its "value"

coins were often hole for 2 reasons --(1) by making a hole in the coin and by keeping the small amount of silver from doing it -- the hole maker screwed the next guy out of a small bit of silver ( which the hole maker then saved up and when he had enough , he melted it into into a silver blob and sold it ) -- shaving the edges of the silver coins was also quite common as well -- so much so that many vendors had scales and weighted a coin before accepting it in payment --- and (2) they strung them on a string to safeguard them from loss , yet keep em handy for use. --especially true of smaller coins which were used a lot for everyday use.

neuseman · Apr 7, 2011

Thanks for the info guys. Im pretty sure this coin is copper.

steelheadwill · Apr 7, 2011

Size & weight would be a big help :hello:

Tuberale · Apr 7, 2011

Black oxide of silver common on coins from underwater. How did you arrive at copper?

steelheadwill · Apr 7, 2011

Tuberale said:
Black oxide of silver common on coins from underwater. How did you arrive at copper?

Keerect,
I found a couple saltwater silvers I first thought were copper.

ivan salis · Apr 7, 2011

silver in contact with saltwater often turns blackish via oxidation * -- i see a bit "rusty" iron marking on it --as if it was against a iron item that long ago rusted away

neuseman · Apr 7, 2011

This coin was not found in salt water. If you look at the pictures I posted you can see a nick in the coin close to the hole and looks to have the color of copper. Im not sure that it is copper. Just thought by the color by the hole that it was a copper coin. How do I check to see if this coin is silver? Do I try and clean it? If this coin is in fact a silver or copper coin it is my biggest find yet! I just got started metal detecting 6 weeks ago and to find a coin this old before I even find a silver dime or quarter is pretty cool! Sorry it took a while for me to get back to you all. Thank for your help and any sugesstions that you might have.

ivan salis · Apr 7, 2011

silver tarnishs -- no matter where its at -- however it really heavily blackens around saltwater but it will turn dark most everywhere in the ground . -- that said looks like a lil spanish silver coin -- the copper spot might be a iron deposit where some iron item laid against it rusting away over thime but leaving a mark upon it --or the coin could be a "period"' old time era counterfiet coin --copper based with a silver top coat .

the hole might have been done to check purity * --many vendors used scales to check the weight of coin before acepting them for payment * if the weight was not correct --they refused them and often call the "officals" to check out the person attempting to pass the coin.

steelheadwill · Apr 8, 2011

ivan salis said:
silver in contact with saltwater often turns blackish via oxidation * -- i see a bit "rusty" iron marking on it --as if it was against a iron item that long ago rusted away

Looks like you got a silver,
check this example of a 'rusty' 1940 Canada quarter.

ivan salis · Apr 8, 2011

yep --look at how being close to a iron item has rust toned the candain "silver" coin above :icon_thumright:

-- its a darkened spanish pillars and waves era silver coin -- the tic tac toe pattern with the wave design under it gives it away. :wink:

neuseman · Apr 8, 2011

Should I try to clean this coin and if so, how should I clean it? Thanks for everyones help on this coin!

steelheadwill · Apr 8, 2011

I try not to clean coins, i always regret it :'(

I just noticed my canada quarter is missing it's last A in Canada :icon_scratch:

Ivan, what do you think :icon_scratch:

ivan salis · Apr 8, 2011

the last A is there --worn quite a bit but there. in a straight line go upwards from where the ear meets the caribou's head and you will see the cross bar of the A . :wink:

steelheadwill · Apr 9, 2011

ivan salis said:
the last A is there --worn quite a bit but there. in a straight line go upwards from where the ear meets the caribou's head and you will see the cross bar of the A .

I think I see the marking you mean, wide spacing on the letters,
the first A is covered with a clump of crust, there may have been one on the 2nd,
and pulled the letter off when removed.
I enjoy reading your knowledgeable replies :hello:

CRUSADER · Apr 9, 2011

ivan salis said:
pillar and waves era spanish cob type coin - with its # tic tac toe design -- 78 P -- on the bottom row means --1678 -Potosi mint -- the top middle row number is its "value"

coins were often hole for 2 reasons --(1) by making a hole in the coin and by keeping the small amount of silver from doing it -- the hole maker screwed the next guy out of a small bit of silver ( which the hole maker then saved up and when he had enough , he melted it into into a silver blob and sold it ) -- shaving the edges of the silver coins was also quite common as well -- so much so that many vendors had scales and weighted a coin before accepting it in payment --- and (2) they strung them on a string to safeguard them from loss , yet keep em handy for use. --especially true of smaller coins which were used a lot for everyday use.

It was more common to sew them into their clothes in different places, this stopped them from having their 'whole' bag of coins stolen in 1 go. Kept them safe on long journeys.

ivan salis · Apr 9, 2011

yep sewing coins into clothing was common --no pockets like modern day clothing has back then another was to wear money on a thong / string about the neck . --rich folks that had sizible bits of money often had a leather pouch which was worn tied around the waist --thus the term for well to do folks --"money bags" :wink: