Spanish Silver, and a colonial Apothecary weight! Wow!

Scrappy

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Mar 6, 2014
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A quick post before I hit the sack. I went to an area I call Basstards of Brambles meadows. It's a place only me and the crew can go.

I found lots of buttons and such but they're soaking (not pictured)

A 1789 Spanish 1/2 reale (note the Carolous IV vs. Carolous IIII). Also, the double holing is killer. One was filled, only to have another put in it.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503020611.396732.jpgImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503020623.540104.jpgImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503020644.421655.jpg

It other keeper and a KILLER find was an apothecary weight, 3 Drachms. (Thanks Bill D. for the ID). Looks to be 18th century from my research.

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503020793.173220.jpg

I went ahead and did a light zap in the electrolysis tank. I'm not a fan of zapping anything but iron, but I otherwise wouldn't have been able to make out the markings. Both sides are marked. ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503020804.403088.jpgImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503020814.375135.jpg

An undug example

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Curious about apothecary weights? Here's a tidbit:

https://www.britannica.com/science/apothecaries-weight

I'll post the buttons and bits tomorrow once cleaned.

UPDATED: some buttons incl. a nice folded colonial crosshatch, a winder, and some Indians including a roached 1871 and 1872

ImageUploadedByTreasureNet.com1503102805.825489.jpg

I'm glad I was able to add this picture before my post turned in to a pumpkin. Tnets 24 hour edit rule should GO!

Good digs and good luck

Steve
 

Last edited:
Upvote 52
Awesome find! Big congratulations! Top shelf relics.
But why would anyone try to fill the hole on the half Real and how on Earth did they do it?
 

Sweet finds bud
 

Hi, N.S.W Newark of New York made Troy apr wieghts until 1940. TP
 

Nice finds. Havent seen much Spanish posted lately and your weight looks exactly like one I found on one of my colonial sites
 

Great finds scrappy!!!!! sweet
 

Very nice finds! I can't believe all the very early things you have found...even 1600s! THAT is beyond unbelievable. Good for you.
 

Awesome find! Big congratulations! Top shelf relics.
But why would anyone try to fill the hole on the half Real and how on Earth did they do it?

Much appreciated - I've been after a square coin weight or apothecary weight for some time now. I've read that some silver coins that were holed for wearing, that later went back into circulation, would have the hole filled. I dunno if thats true, but if I were selling something back then and received 5 or 6 holed coins, I might have minded.

Onto the top shelf they go! Cheers
 

Hi, N.S.W Newark of New York made Troy apr wieghts until 1940. TP

Yes, and they are still used occasionally to this day. The changes in design over the ages is how I determined this one is likely colonial. Very interesting system of measurements!
 

Awesome find! Big congratulations! Top shelf relics.
But why would anyone try to fill the hole on the half Real and how on Earth did they do it?

Very nice Scrappy! Two keepers that many have on their bucket list. Congrats

The only thing that comes to mind about the filling of the hole is to bring the coin back to a certain weight. It has the cool factor written all over it, that's for sure.
 

Nice finds. Havent seen much Spanish posted lately and your weight looks exactly like one I found on one of my colonial sites

Thanks T. Did yours have the same markings? There were many square ones way back. As for the Spanish, it's always a welcomed surprise. This one rang in kind of low. It was on edge under a root. Good thing I tried a finger extraction instead of a shovel! Haha
 

Very nice finds! I can't believe all the very early things you have found...even 1600s! THAT is beyond unbelievable. Good for you.

Hey thanks man, much appreciated! I really try to take the time to find the old sites. It means I strike out quite often, but try not to get discouraged, and eventually score. My goal now is 1500's - an extremely difficult feat in the New World.
 

Scrappy - I love seeing your finds, only they make be depressingly jealous!! Congrats to you, mate, I'm happy for you! :occasion14:
 

Gotta love that apothecary weight-those are very infrequent finds. And congrats on finding the half real.
 

Yep, the filled hole is really cool Steve and the apothecary weight is a nice find. Congrats
 

Thanks T. Did yours have the same markings? There were many square ones way back. As for the Spanish, it's always a welcomed surprise. This one rang in kind of low. It was on edge under a root. Good thing I tried a finger extraction instead of a shovel! Haha
Yep. Same markings
 

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