TO CCF
Posted 03/07/2014 11:31 am
Welcome footballjos
Your coin is a Spanish Colonial 8 Reales Portrait Dollar. The legend on the obverse translates Carlos IIII, by the grace of God (Dei Gracia). The reverse translates to "king of Spain and the Indies", then the Mo mintmark showing it was struck in Mexico City, then the denomination "8 Reales" and finally the assayer initial FM for the assayer that was responsible for the fineness of the silver. 8 Reales were the coin of the world from the early 1700's through the collapse of the Spanish Empire in the New World around 1822.
As for authentic, can't tell from the photo, they are a commonly counterfeited coin and there are many specimens that are full silver weight yet may have been made outside the mints and much later than the dates indicate to satisfy the huge demand for these coins in trade with the Orient where they were the preferred coin (both Portrait dollars of Carlos III, Carlos IIII and Ferdinand VII, and the earlier version called Pillar Dollars of Phillip V, Ferdinand VI and Carlos III). They are a wonderful coin to collect by either type, by mint, by monarch, by date, however catches your fancy. There are several collectors here on the forum that can answer questions and give direction and we have several experts on counterfeits of this type to help you learn to be wary. Look up some of the old posts and jump into the addiction, we welcome you.
Your coin is a Spanish Colonial 8 Reales Portrait Dollar. The legend on the obverse translates Carlos IIII, by the grace of God (Dei Gracia). The reverse translates to "king of Spain and the Indies", then the Mo mintmark showing it was struck in Mexico City, then the denomination "8 Reales" and finally the assayer initial FM for the assayer that was responsible for the fineness of the silver. 8 Reales were the coin of the world from the early 1700's through the collapse of the Spanish Empire in the New World around 1822.
As for authentic, can't tell from the photo, they are a commonly counterfeited coin and there are many specimens that are full silver weight yet may have been made outside the mints and much later than the dates indicate to satisfy the huge demand for these coins in trade with the Orient where they were the preferred coin (both Portrait dollars of Carlos III, Carlos IIII and Ferdinand VII, and the earlier version called Pillar Dollars of Phillip V, Ferdinand VI and Carlos III). They are a wonderful coin to collect by either type, by mint, by monarch, by date, however catches your fancy. There are several collectors here on the forum that can answer questions and give direction and we have several experts on counterfeits of this type to help you learn to be wary. Look up some of the old posts and jump into the addiction, we welcome you.
