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 Replies: 22 / Views: 9,415 |
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Pillar of the Community
 Mexico
1304 Posts |
Ok, thank you for the clarity in the multiple requests for what I don't have...and will unlikely be able to get. (I leave tomorrow)
However, I would likely recognized the coin if I saw it. Soooo...sorry to turn the tables on everyone...but, it's my turn:
I want suggestions! I want PICS!! :p
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
harrison2 The first clue is the wording REPUBLICA MEXICANA - that wording dates the coin to anytime AFTER 1821. Most of the tiny silver coins pre-date the Republican era so that eliminates the majority of candidates. The size "just over a quarter of an inch" is too small for any actual silver coin issued in Mexico but the legend REPUBLICANA was in fact used alone on the silver quarter Reale. That coin measures about 11 millimeters which is nearly 1/2 an inch. The silver quartilla has a Female head on one side with the mint mark near the lower left side and the assayer initials on the lower right side. The other side has a fraction in the center 1/4 with REPUBLICA MEXICANA around it. The date is below the fraction in line with the legend. The coin weighs 8/10ths of a gram and has a plain edge.  If that is not the coin - it may be a fantasy issue of the Maximilian type. These tiny items are technically not coins and were made in the 1960's and more recently. The dated versions usually say 1865 have a bust of Max on one side and an eagle on the other. But the legend does not read REPUBLICA MEXICANA. There is a second version - the same size dated 1822 which has a picture of Iturbide on it but it does not have the correct legend. The third version I know of has an Aztec indian on one side and the aztec calendar on the other. Here is the token that is the best candidate - the one at the top is the 1960 version with the B and the one at the bottom is a more modern knock-off. 
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
Swamperbob, thank you for taking the energy to reply to my post. Your photos are great!
Your comments only thicken the plot. I saw the silver quartilla in Krause but it doesn't look familiar. Thank you for the photo, I couldn't find one online and the one in my version of Krause is terrible.
For what it's worth, when I saw this coin it's size reminded me of a "panama pill," a tiny Panamanian issue that I had when I was a kid. (I told someone not five minutes after seeing this coin that it was narrower than my pinky fingernail) When I look through Krause, KM#410, a 1 peso gold coin with a simple eagle and the words "Republica Mexicana" seems to have the same simplicity as this little silver coin, but I don't think the other side was the same..."1 peso"
I SINCERELY thought it would be a simple question and I'd find out that it was a common $5 coin. Now, the worst of all possibilities, serious DOUBT is creeping in and the answer isn't so forthcoming.
Sadly, I'll be leaving before I can meet up with the contact again. However, there is hope! I plan on having a friend track down my gypsy street vendor and take a couple of photos.
I'll keep everyone informed and hope to have PICTURES soon. :)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
The Panama Pill has no equivalent among real Mexican coins issued by the government. The gold peso (13 mm) is actually larger than the silver quartilla (11 mm) or the Maximilian tokens at (9 mm or so). So whatever you have stumps me. I suspect a fantasy or perhaps one of those ting "shrunken" coins sold at tourist shops.
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
The plot thickens!
You are right, this coin wasn't the same size as the panama pill, but it was in the same general category of "very small coins." I just hope when all this is over it doesn't turn out to be the quartillo and my memory was the main culprit!
I'll swing by his corner this morning. Though I doubt he'll be there, it's worth a shot.
Again, thank you for applying your vast knowledge of Mexican coins to my slight misfortune.
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
Sigh...this hurts. Here are the photos so lovingly supplied by my 3rd party.   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Looks like a Quartilla and a 1/2 reale to me. The head side of the Quartilla in the picture to the right is unmistakable. The size is about right if I extrapolate measurements from a 2x2 holder.
Edited by swamperbob
03/02/2011 3:03 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
Sadly, I have to agree...I really thought I remembered it having an eagle on it. :(
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5362 Posts |
Perhaps you combined the memories of both small coins and they merged in your mind. I do that all the time.
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
SwamperBob, your a right decent fella. Thank you for the benefit of the doubt!
I'm still going to try for a better photo...I'd like to see if it's worth nearly what he was asking for it.
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
Well folks, she bravely went back and surprised me with clearer photos!    Looks to be an 1843 or 1848. Care to take a stab at the mink mark? Now the question that beggs to be asked: Anyone out there want it?  |
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Valued Member
United States
426 Posts |
Hello Harrison,
The 1/2 Real is a Go (Guanajuato Mint) for sure but the cuartilla looks to be a 1848 but cannot make it out exactly.
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
I was thinking it was a 1848 Go which would make sense, it was probably found metal detecting no more than 30 miles from they city of Guanajuato.  You don't have the Krause on this little fella, do you? |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2490 Posts |
VG 2.0 F 4.0 VF 8.0 XF 15.0
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Pillar of the Community
Mexico
1304 Posts |
Awesome! I was right to pass this one up. Thank you guys, your efforts are GREATLY appreciated.
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Replies: 22 / Views: 9,415 |
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Posted 02/26/2011 10:42 pm
