Queen Isabel II Makes a Really Big, Silvery Appearance!

[Silvermonkey]

Greetings All-
Until today, I didn't know there was such a thing as a 20 Reales coin. I was shocked when this huge silver coin came out of the ground.

It's an 1855 Spanish Isabel II 20 Reales piece. Here is a link to the Numista site that provides a thorough desciption: https://es.numista.com/7732. The coin is holed and weighes in at 26 grams. What a monster!

Also found a couple of very crusty " fatty" IHP's, a tombac button ( not shown), and a variety of other items from roughly the same time period.

As the 2025 detecting season begins to wind down in Eastern Massachusetts, I was thrilled to find this coin before the ground freezes up.
Cheers, and Happy Hunting!

 

[pepperj]

Like who knew!
Liking that big silver.
Congratulations on the late season winner.

 

[lenmac65]

Wow! I was unaware of a 20 reale denomination and I doubt any have been posted here. A silver that big, old, and uncommon would look nice on the banner, I think. Congrats and continued good luck!

 

[Jose The Goon]

Congrats Agmonkey. That's a nice hunk of silver coin.
I can envision some wealthy dude wearing that around his neck on a cool chain, & fancy hat & boots, strutting around like a big shot.
Great find !!
Here's a little Bob Dylan & friends with your theme song:

 

[Silvermonkey]

Congrats Agmonkey. That's a nice hunk of silver coin.
I can envision some wealthy dude wearing that around his neck on a cool chain, & fancy hat & boots, strutting around like a big shot.
Great find !!
Here's a little Bob Dylan & friends with your theme song:

I love my new theme song! Thanks Jose!

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

What a rare, fantastic and also a Banner find - congrats !
I've also never seen a 20 Reales coin posted before !

20 Reales Diameter - 37 mm
US Silver Dollar Diameter - 38.1 mm

 

[The Rebel]

WTG on the silver, never seen one before. Banner vote in!

 

[The Beep Goes On]

I bet that thing screamed. An unquestionably exhilarating find!! Congratz!!

 

[iAmMike]

It makes for a great day to find a honking silver coin - especially when it's one you didn't know existed!

 

[Terry Soloman]

WoW!

 

[Almy]

Intriguing and uncommon coin! Eight reales is the size of a silver dollar. This one must be huge. It's newer than the Spanish coins circulating in the Revolutionary period. By 1855 the US had its own coinage. This must have come either as a curio or in the change of a traveler.

 

[JohnnyMac]

Greetings All-
Until today, I didn't know there was such a thing as a 20 Reales coin. I was shocked when this huge silver coin came out of the ground.

View attachment 2236704View attachment 2236705

It's an 1855 Spanish Isabel II 20 Reales piece. Here is a link to the Numista site that provides a thorough desciption: https://es.numista.com/7732. The coin is holed and weighes in at 26 grams. What a monster!

View attachment 2236706View attachment 2236707

Also found a couple of very crusty " fatty" IHP's, a tombac button ( not shown), and a variety of other items from roughly the same time period.

View attachment 2236708View attachment 2236709

As the 2025 detecting season begins to wind down in Eastern Massachusetts, I was thrilled to find this coin before the ground freezes up.
Cheers, and Happy Hunting!

Wow! Thats an awesome coin!!!! Congrats

 

[oldmxrat]

Wow, new one on me! Congrats on that BANNER find!

 

[Silvermonkey]

Thanks to all for your comments. As is often the case, I'd love to know how this coin ended up on the side of a farm field in Massachusetts. I love the fact that its holed. I can imagine it hanging from a string around some farmer's neck back in the day. I'm crossing my fingers that the weather holds out for couple of more weeks, and I can make a return visit to this site. Maybe there's another old silver hiding out there.

 

[mjb Mike]

wow very crisp banner vote thats awsome