Question of weight of Mexican gold coins

Mackaydon

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Oct 26, 2004
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The "take", of course, would probably have not been in dollars, but in escudos; and represented the 'face' value of the 'take' versus the gold value of the 'take'. You'd have to first convert 1860 escudos to US dollar values. For example, what was the value, in dollars, of an 1860 escudo? With that knowledge and knowing that an 8-escudo (gold) coin from Mexico in the year (say 1861) weighed 27.07 grams and was .875 fine, you'll have your answer IF the 'take' was in gold coin.

It's too late tonight for me to consider your Q. if the 'take' was in silver pesos? Then again, what if the 'take' was in paper money? The first banknotes issued by the Mexican state were produced in 1823.
Don...
 

Tank69

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not enough info , wouldnt mind findin it tho no matter what currency it is :tongue3:
 

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el_gral

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Hello All!

I enjoy any Mexican treasure story, if you have any more uncompromising details I would love to hear it! If not that's ok!

Good Luck!
 

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lastleg

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Feb 3, 2008
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8 reales:

Good morning. This is a treasure story that was told twice in
Lost Treasure magazine written both times by D. Atchley. In the
article Mr. Atchley claims that five Americans robbed a Monterrey,
Mexico bank of $18,000. During the ride out of Mexico four were
killed, two at the hands of Rurales and two by Texas Rangers. The
lone robber supposedly was able to take the loot to Fort Belknap,
Texas and bury it somewhere near the old fort.
I became curious about what $18,000 in Mexican gold coins would
weigh since the article stated it was Spanish doubloons that were
taken in the robbery. Mexico was minting gold escudos in that time
period so I reasoned that some parts of the story didn't add up.
You are welcome to research this legend as I am not interested
enough to further persue it.
If anyone has already done research and has more to add about
it's validity I would like to hear it. I keep thinking of the movie
"The Wild Bunch" but it has been so long since seeing it but I
remember it was about unruly gringos robbing banks in Mexico.

lastleg
 

Mackaydon

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Oct 26, 2004
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Last Leg:

Assuming the $18,000 was the 'face' amount of the loot, and the loot was in doubloons. Assume further that each doubloon was equal to US$16. Then 1,125 doubloons was the 'take'. Each doubloon (8-escudo)
weighed 27.07 grams. 1,125 doubloons would then weigh 30,453.75 grams. To compute grams to ounces, multiply by 0.03527; that would yield 1074.1 ounces; or just over 67 pounds of coin. I offer these figures IMHO.
Don....
 

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lastleg

Silver Member
Feb 3, 2008
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658
Thanks Don:

So it might have been possible for one man horseback to carry
that weight 400 or so miles north to Ft Belknap. This is another
of J Frank Dobie's "folk legends" that has sent countless seekers
away from humdrum work-a day lives into the far green hills of
fantasy. IMHO . . .

lastleg
 

savant365

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Mar 28, 2007
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So if it was 67 pounds of pure gold it would be worth a little over $750,000.00 today...I could spend a couple hours looking for that myself.
 

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lastleg

Silver Member
Feb 3, 2008
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658
Well grab you Ace, shovel, cowboy hat and boots and . . . .
Come On Down ! ! !
 

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