Need Help In Idenditfying An Old Gold Coin. (Id: Reproduction Seville, Spain, Gold Cob 4 Escudos)

Thats why I posted the pictures on top, because that's the exact picture of the coin with better resolution. My actual coin is the 3rd picture. If I remember it was over 6 grams.

Hi, susie143.

First,

I am not an expert on this type of coin, but we have experts here on the forum who should be able to give you an answer.

It's important for you to post better pictures of your actual coin to get the help you're seeking. The pictures of the gold coin you posted at the beginning don't look right because this is the design of a silver coin of the type found in the Atocha shipwreck, not a gold coin. Like this one: https://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotv...079019e8f083

Gold coins have a different type of cross on the back, and would not have the lion and castle design in the angles of the cross: https://www.coinarchives.com/w/resu...&results=100

Maybe that's a start at least.

To the Forum.

Check those out:

http://www.ancientresource.com/lots...e-coins.html
https://www.sedwickcoins.com/shipwreck_coins.htm
https://www.newworldtreasures.com/cointypes.htm

Well, the first coin is a counterfeit / modern reproduction of a Seville, Spain, gold cob 4 escudos. It is probably made of a base metal that's been plated. I see this exact type about every few months from metal detectorists. They are typically seeded in parks for metal detecting competitions and then forgotten.

Based on your photos, yours looks like a similar copy. Weight is off for a 4 escudos. A legitimate example would weigh about 13.5 grams. Likewise, the details are wrong and mushy. The cross design is not that used by the Seville mint.

The most obvious tell is that your coin and coin from the web have exactly the same shape and centering. They are identical in every respect. That doesn't happen with genuine hand-hammered coins.

I'm not an expert in Spanish cobs but the overall design has a muddy, cartoonish quality. My impression of the genuine coins I've seen is that they may often be carelessly struck but the dies are prepared with a modicum of care and skill.

Both coins appear to be base metal with a minimal gold wash.

unfortunately modern numismatic frauds (fakes made to deceive potential buyers of coins) are flooding the market; it is a shame

No.
One poster said that there are some copies of older gold coins made with a lower carat gold.

Of the coins shown by the original poster, another poster said


... and elements of the design give it away as fake.