Silver Reale identification

[2krafty]

I am a student at SUNY Maritime researching a coin in my possession. My father tells me it was found near the Cayman islands, i did some research and believe it is a Spanish Colonial Silver Reales Coin(Pillar type) If anybody can help with a possible shipwreck it would be found on it would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[gunsil]

Why do you think it came from a shipwreck?? These are found dropped on the ground in many states and countries. You don't list the size so hard to tell what denomination it is. Interesting setting for sure.

 

[2krafty]

My father said he bought at an auction and it was found on a shipwreck, sadly he lost the certificate of authenticity.

 

[Mackaydon]

Interesting design; tentacles of an octopus wrapped around the coin.
Don....

 

[Mackaydon]

Have your dad call the auctioneer, who probably still has a copy of the COA.
Welcome to treasurenet !!
Don......

 

[Red-Coat]

Welcome to Tnet.

No way of knowing where this came from unless you can find the documentation that came with it, or can retrieve the auction record.

Nevertheless, it’s ‘Charles and Joanna’ coinage of Mexico City, which divides into “Early Series (1536-1542)” and “Late Series (1542-1571)” based on major design changes arising from the arrival of all-new dies from Spain. Yours is Late Series.

The L / oM on the left / right of the shield is for the assayer (Luis Rodriguez) / mint (Mexico City). Rodriguez assay then divides into two periods: c1547-c1553 and c1554-1569, with the later period having a cruder style of engraving and generally struck on planchets with more variable thickness and roundness. Yours looks to be from that later period (consistent with the style of the design).

Spread across the pillars you have the ‘PLVS VLTRA’ inscription (variously abbreviated on these coins as PLVSVLT, PLVSVL, PLVSVT or LVSV) and above it a single ‘dot'. That indicates it’s a ‘one real’ (the ‘two reales’ would have two dots side by side, and different indications were used for other denominations).

 

[Mackaydon]

An additional way to determine if the coin is First or Second Series is to note the 'L' assayer, Luis Rodriguez, was not an assayer during the First Series.
Also, if the auction was online, the COA may still be retrievable.
Don....

 

[Mackaydon]

Another indicator to narrow the coin date is know that the 'oM' mintmark on assayer "L" coinage was produced in the later years of his tenure.
The output from this assayer was prolific.
Don.......

 

[CRUSADER]

My father said he bought at an auction and it was found on a shipwreck, sadly he lost the certificate of authenticity.

Welcome to Tnet.
Very nice piece.
I think the shipwreck story is pretty common & although many have been sold, without the original paperwork from the shipwreck salvager, it's just a nice story. My gut feeling looking at the coin, is it has a nice cabinet tone & doesn't scream wreck coin, but that is just my WAG.
At least you have a good ID.

 

[unclemac]

i agree, there is a lot of detail on your coin that would be obscured or weathered from "shipwreck effect" were it in salt water for 400 years.

 

[unclemac]

2 reales i think

 

[Red-Coat]

2 reales i think

See last para of post#6

There is a single dot above the abbreviated ‘PLVS VLTRA’ inscription running across the pillars, indicating one real.


The two reales would have two dots placed side by side, like this:

 

[unclemac]

i see it as two dots close together, how big is the coin?

 

[Mackaydon]

I also see what could be two dots close together.
So another way to determine the coin's denomination is by its diameter.
The Second Series 1R has a diameter of 24mm; the 2R has a diameter of 28mm; the 4R has a diameter of 33mm.
Don......

 

[CRUSADER]

I also see what could be two dots close together.
So another way to determine the coin's denomination is by its diameter.
The Second Series 1R has a diameter of 24mm; the 2R has a diameter of 28mm; the 4R has a diameter of 33mm.
Don......

If the OP comes back with a size that will nail it.
I have one theory, it could be a single dot but a double strike, looks kind of double struck on that side to me.