I don't know if it is real, as this is supposed to be a gold coin:
1817 - Colonial Spain
Ferdinand VII - Half Escudo
Spanish Gold was international currency. Under the British Government Spanish coin was used for the payment of the troops in Ceylon.
SPECIFICATIONSDenomination: Half Escudo
Alloy: Gold.875Au
Type: Struck
Diameter: 15. mm
Thickness: mm
Weight Legal: 1.69 gms
Weight: ~1.69 gms
Shape: Round
Edge:
DieAxis: O°
Obverse : Laureate head of Ferdinand VII to right. with legends FERDIN.VII. on left and D.G.HISP.R. on right with year 1817 below.
Reverse : crowned oval arms in Order collar. Mintmark Crowned M (Madrid) on left and Mint Master's initials GJ ()
The coins are mentioned by Codrington, who states
Small gold coins of Ferdinand VII somtimes appear in the bazaars. This is a one year Type coin is not from circulation in Lanka.
Ferdinand VII (1784-1833), succeeded to the throne on 1808, March 17th by the forced abdication of his father Charles IV, but was taken prisoner to France and forced to cede the throne of Spain to Napoleon's brother Joseph Bonaparte (1808-1813). In 1814 France was driven out and Ferdinand VII returned to Spain. His absolutist reign up to his death on 1833, Sept. 29th brought few blessings to Spain which lost most of its colonial empire in Central and South America in 1821-22.
Text from
* Ceylon Coins and Currency By H. W. Codrington. Colombo 1924
Page 170 Chapter XIII Miscellaneous: III - Spanish
http://coins.lakdiva.org/spanish/18..._1he_au.html