Shield Button & Republica Mexicana Mystery Items Found In Cape Cod

[NicktheMainer]

These are some relics that were found on a site that dates back to the 1780's. I was wondering how old both finds date back to and what the history is behind each of them. I've seen "Republica Mexicana" coins online with the same face but this one doesn't have a back. It even has a rigid border like a coin, so I don't know what it is. Thanks for the help!

 

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[creskol]

I am pretty sure that the Fleur De Lis bade looking thingy is actually a leather strap end. Here are some others that have been found over the years:

 

[Mackaydon]

The size and design of the Mexican coin (?) is equal to a one peso coin minted between 1898 and 1909. The reverse (if a coin) would have shown a radiant liberty cap, the mint mark, year minted and the number '.9027', representing its purity of silver.
Don....

 

[NicktheMainer]

That's cool, some of those look exactly like mine. When I first saw it I thought it looked like a Fleur De Lis.

 

[NicktheMainer]

Yes you're right, I'm very confused as to what this would be.

 

[Bramblefind]

That's a nice composite by Creskol I've always called that design the Prince of Wales Plumes.

The "coin" is a really neat find! And I might have a complete version here--- well I have it in pieces. I actually own this and I have never seen another like it. I think it is a contemporary counterfeit of a Mexico 8 Reales. Your piece looks like what I have without the white metal core.

 

[BosnMate]

Looking at the photo it appears that the back side of the coin is hollow. If that is the case there are a couple of possibilities. When I was a kid I did
a disappearing coin trick that involved a hollow backed coin. Check this site out. How to Do the Scotch and Soda Coin Trick
Hollow coins were also used by spies. There have been radios in hollow coins and also in hollow nuts and bolts, as well as micro film in coins etc. Lets say
that the contact sells hot dogs or ice cream. You buy the ice cream, and pay for it, and he gets the info you are providing, and in the change you get a hollow
coin with further orders.
You might have found something a spy lost during the cold war.

 

[realeswatcher]

Regarding the two Mexican coin slices... looks like the same process was used on both - sliced open with a lathe - but possibly for different purposes.

First, the coins are both a bit earlier - both are technically Mexico Cap & Rays "8 Reales" coins (obviously you can see this on Bramble's piece), the older, more accomplished brother of the fairly short-lived full-size Cap & Rays peso - The date on the first piece should be similar to the other -- 1870s-ish. Note that many of these later dates saw their primary usage in China.

Hard to tell from those pics of NickTheMainer's piece whether his coin half is hollow, or filled, or hollowed BUT not smoothly, more like some kind of plug HAD filled it at some time... Like what BosnMate said, a coin could be lathed open and hollowed out with the purpose of containing something (trick coins and the spy radio thing are examples, but of a bit later vintage). Pieces of this type (seen on 1800s crown-sized pieces, certainly including the Cap & Rays 8R) were called "Box Dollars" or "Opium Dollars" from the idea of a more nefarious use.

As I said, hard to tell exactly with that first piece... As far as Bramble's piece - it's definitely not that. Rather, definitely looks to be a piece that was sliced open, silver removed and replaced with base metal (lead?). Same idea that they do with gold bars... scoop out the precious metal from the center, replace it with base metal of a similar density so the weight is close, then hide your tracks. Neat to find both halves at once...

 

[CRUSADER]

That's a nice composite by Creskol I've always called that design the Prince of Wales Plumes.

The "coin" is a really neat find! And I might have a complete version here--- well I have it in pieces. I actually own this and I have never seen another like it. I think it is a contemporary counterfeit of a Mexico 8 Reales. Your piece looks like what I have without the white metal core.

Or the Prince of Wales Feathers.

The coin I think is one of the magic/trick coins that opens up & is hollow inside.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Or the Prince of Wales Feathers.

The coin I think is one of the magic/trick coins that opens up & is hollow inside.

I have seen similar at the coin fare, one was a Cartwheel penny that opened up as a container, possibly for more coins and looked identical to the real thing, only deeper...very neat. The shield looks like a horse décor shield, with the prince of wales feathers....cool finds

SS

 

[aka da Prof]

'leather strap ends'-- I have one with no design on it, just plain and always wondered what it might be, now I have an idea!--(love this site)--

 

[creskol]

I found another one of these yesterday.