Posted 05/11/2013 11:25 pm
The coin is a Modern Tourist Replica made on a collared press. These are a low value type with no silver content. They can usually be purchased for about $1.
Original and even the majority of counterfeits were actually made on an open side screw press. That was state of the art until the 1830's.
When you start to look for coins (and before buying) - the internet can be a great help. There are hundreds of websites that show pictures of coins. In this case all you would really need is to start on a search site like google or bing and enter the description 1776 Mexico 8 Reales.
I just tried that and in the first few lines of pictures were three coins identical to yours - all were properly identified - one as a Fake, one as an Imitation and one as a Replica. But you get the idea. There were several others but what you should start with are photos of encapsulated coins that were authenticated by NGC, PCGS or ANACS.
Do not rely on other Third Party Graders.
When I started collecting coins in 1956 we had to find a listing in a book, but this internet is something else.
I am raedy to reviseld Feldman's quote to read "Look at the Internet before buying the coin."
Original and even the majority of counterfeits were actually made on an open side screw press. That was state of the art until the 1830's.
When you start to look for coins (and before buying) - the internet can be a great help. There are hundreds of websites that show pictures of coins. In this case all you would really need is to start on a search site like google or bing and enter the description 1776 Mexico 8 Reales.
I just tried that and in the first few lines of pictures were three coins identical to yours - all were properly identified - one as a Fake, one as an Imitation and one as a Replica. But you get the idea. There were several others but what you should start with are photos of encapsulated coins that were authenticated by NGC, PCGS or ANACS.
Do not rely on other Third Party Graders.
When I started collecting coins in 1956 we had to find a listing in a book, but this internet is something else.
I am raedy to reviseld Feldman's quote to read "Look at the Internet before buying the coin."
