8 reales, 1748, Mexico - fake or not ?  

 

MatheiuMa - congratulations for posting your 500th
It's a counterfeit off-scale edge.

Here is what I didn't liked on that coin :
* The edge is much damaged, compared to both sides. This is hardly possible on a regular coin (even sea salvaged)
* On the first picture, the letters look mushy, and the coin's background looks like a sponge (unlike high points - sea damage would have been everywhere if that's what it would have been)
* Some extra metal on the pillar die : on top of the left mint mark, under the top you and E, under the left N and on the right of the right bottom flower.
* The denticles are irregular near the left mint mark

As for the map and pillar Plus Ultra, it looks "too clean" - but not that much wrong compared to this one for example :
http://www.coindatabase.com/coin_de...?cdb=K200502

Larry86GT : I think I remember that the master dies were made with parts of the shield - top and bottom, and that the lion / castle were added after.
I'm not sure when though, but I think I remember (again) that those dies changed in time ... I don't manage to find that discussion in the archives though :/
I'm not sure this is a 100% bullet proof clue.

Oh, cool, I'm over 500 post, now a Pillar of the Community :D
Thx for the heads up Pandesalapi - I didn't noticed :)
I'll post a set of coins to celebrate this :D

You need a specific gravity test(type in search box), and/or xray analysis to confirm. According to Swamperbob, the use of transfer dies is making detection a bear..the edges are the clue, but, I'm no expert on these.

I note no one makes any mention of the toning...

i won't take it anyway

... anyway ... have some Sheffields for sale ... see seller: johnmenc ... listed as regals. But if you read this and want some Sheffields ... good luck. Some have distictive peeling. Can supply XRF data upon request after the E-Bay sale.

John Lorenzo
United States