spanish silver 2 reale

[GKman]

It was a gorgeous crisp fall day here in the Hudson River Valley and a great day to be detecting. This home site has given up quite a few nice buttons and buckles and only one or two large cents, so seeing this was a nice surprise. Any idea on the date?

 

[oxbowbarefoot]

Love those Spanish silvers!

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Your coin is pillar style, and those were first minted in 1772. They were produced until the early 1800s so that should give you an idea. But I think I can see the Mexico City mint mark, and what looks like the "J-J" assayers mark. If I'm correct on both of those things your coin would date between 1812 and 1821 (which is when the mint was closed).

 

[GKman]

Thanks folks, good information about the coin, much appreciated...

 

[Evolution]

Congrats on the Spanish silver! I'm still looking for one of those. Keep up the good work.

 

[terpfan]

Your coin is pillar style, and those were first minted in 1772. They were produced until the early 1800s so that should give you an idea. But I think I can see the Mexico City mint mark, and what looks like the "J-J" assayers mark. If I'm correct on both of those things your coin would date between 1812 and 1821 (which is when the mint was closed).

Bill, even though it is pretty hard to tell because of the wear, I believe the coin is actually a Carolus III between 1774-1788. It is definitely from the Mexico City Mint. For me the key indicator was the assayers initials, which I believe are "F.F." (Francisco de la Pena and Francisco Arance Cobos). The initials "F.F." are seen just after the "2R" on the reverse side of the coin. If this is the case, the date of the coin must be between 1774-1788, the only years that these assayers worked together. Congrats GKman on finding a terrific piece of Spanish silver!

Spanish Silver Milled Coinage

 

[CASPER-2]

 

[GKman]

Thanks guys, i think the assayers mark is jj... Looking at the coin closer it appears to be a fernando vii placing it in the 1808 to 1833 time frame

 

[Mackaydon]

Bill D., good call; I agree Mex. City JJ assayer. JJ only appeared on the 2R during the years 1812 through 1821.
The letters that can be seen on the reverse are the last in the word 'gratia' which is located in the 4-5 o'clock position if properly aligned.
Originally, the coin weighed 6.77 grams and contained 0.9030 pure silver.
Don......

 

[doninbrewster]

Gary you are still plugging away. Nice find. I picked up a couple of colonials over the weekend, one a 1787 Connecticut in Dutchess at a club hunt. At least two others pulled colonials at the hunt, one a Geo II and the other I'm not sure what it was.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice! I'm still looking for one of those.

 

[terpfan]

Bill D., good call; I agree Mex. City JJ assayer. JJ only appeared on the 2R during the years 1812 through 1821.
The letters that can be seen on the reverse are the last in the word 'gratia' which is located in the 4-5 o'clock position if properly aligned.
Originally, the coin weighed 6.77 grams and contained 0.9030 pure silver.
Don......

Great call Don and Bill. You guys are amazing! 1812-1821 it is. I was surprised there were so many similarities in the two coins, especially on the reverse. The way the bust meets the letters "I" and "A" in "Gratia" on the obverse clearly are like that of the Ferdinand VII coin. It is also interesting to see so much wear on a later-date coin. That coin must have really gotten around a lot before it was lost.