1848 Mexico 8 Reales Kosher? - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,942
Guy Parry New Member Australia 12 Posts	Posted 03/10/2013 9:08 pm My sister bought this recently on ebay on impulse for $80 from a dealer with a 100% positive feedback rating. As soon as I had it in my hands the rough edging caught my attention. It also looks a little too 'blue' compared to other silver coins I own, although it is non-magnetic. Weight is 27.0 g, and I was wondering whether it's a fake or not... Report this Post to the Staff

denco7 Pillar of the Community United States 2543 Posts	Posted 03/10/2013 10:36 pm I would say a cast copy, surfaces definitely look cast. On top of that, a 1848 8R in that condition would be worth hundreds and hundreds and hundreds, not $80. Report this Post to the Staff
swamperbob Pillar of the Community United States 5362 Posts	Posted 03/11/2013 10:40 pm To me the coin looks real - about EF/AU but the surfaces have been cleaned - possibly over dipped or repeatedly polished lightly but I do see scratches behind the over exposed photo. The way this coin is photographed makes it look worse to me because the fields and fine details are obscured. The edge in this case looks better to me - it does not look cleaned and is why I believe the coin is real. It would be difficult to duplicate that look. The price is about right for a coin that will net grade a at VF-EF. I have not run into this date as a cast copy yet but of course it could be made anytime. The edge would be difficult to copy. Report this Post to the Staff
denco7 Pillar of the Community United States 2543 Posts	Posted 03/11/2013 10:51 pm The surface had that " bubbled " look of a casting to me, but............ I am learning Bob. Report this Post to the Staff
swamperbob Pillar of the Community United States 5362 Posts	Posted 03/11/2013 11:13 pm Blow the picture up and the "bubbles" mostly disappear. The texture on the Cap is actually correct for the punch surface. The coin is a full strike - Mexico City had the best equipment. About 20 years ago I got a whole group of 1858 and 1859 Mo 8Rs that were BU from a hoard. They were for the time they were made far superior to the average Mexican strikes and many had mirror surfaces. I have seen a few of like quality from Mexico City that date into the mid 1840s. Take a look in the transitional areas of the photo between the light and darker areas. There are clear cleaning lines and swirls - see the area in the field between the date and the cap. The reverse is not as clear but look under the eagles right wing. Report this Post to the Staff
Guy Parry New Member Australia 12 Posts	Posted 03/12/2013 01:16 am Many thanks for the positive feedback. I was really wondering for a while there. It does look over-cleaned, but the edge had me worried :) Report this Post to the Staff
realeswatcher Pillar of the Community United States 1962 Posts	Posted 03/13/2013 02:45 am They say "kosher" in Australia?! Cleaned fairly harshly, some hairlines... hopefully not so overpolished that it can't heal up with some toning, but certainly dipped and stripped as of now. Actually a nicer strike for a Mexico City piece... As Bob said, they seemed to produce the most professional looking pieces, but the strike in the center tends to be a bit weak, especially in the 30's-early 40's years immediately preceding this piece. This one has a nearly full eagle's breast. Bob, I've seen a promo pack from that hoard you refer to... was a 2-pack, one 1858, one 1859, both PL or semi-PL. Really nice pieces, didn't seem to have needed much in the way of cleaning/"conservation"... Got distracted from bidding on it and they went for a song on the Bay b/c they weren't well advertised. Every time I see a similar piece from those years, I stew a bit... IIRC, the hoard was described as a U.S. find? (not Mexican...somewhere in the South) Report this Post to the Staff
swamperbob Pillar of the Community United States 5362 Posts	Posted 03/13/2013 12:49 pm realeswatcher I can not recall where the hoard came from but the examples I owned were all pristine and needed no cleaning. The worst of the lot was an AU with some rubbing. I got the first group of 6 for just under $30 each back when average 8R sold for $10. The last group I was offered about a year later had a price tag nearer $50 (I didn't buy those) because I think they were nearing the end of the run. The first ones out were actually the best. The 1848 was one of the lower relief die designs that Mexico City was experimenting with to prolong die life. They were definitely top of the heap in terms of Mexican Mints. But I agree 1848 is early to get such a full strike. Even cleaned this coin is preferable to some of the MS-60 examples I have seen where the eagle looks BALD. And it ain't his head I'm Talkin' about. Report this Post to the Staff
zookr Valued Member United States 335 Posts	Posted 03/13/2013 7:10 pm - name of ebay dealer? Found a decent 1872 version recently. Edited by zookr 03/13/2013 9:51 pm Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 8 / Views: 1,942

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