Mexico 8 Reales Suspect Authenticity Soliciting Help (Lots Of Pics)

Is there a second overlap 180 degrees from the one you showed? I am referring to the edge photo at the top that shows the two "0"s overlapping and giving the appearance of an "8". Overlaps should be exactly 180 degrees from each other and there should be two of them. The zinc in the XRF is a bit odd but it shows basically 90% silver. The denticals are all odd but also worn, so hard to judge them. I will forward this thread to Swamperbob and see if he recognizes it as what he calls a "Boston fake"

The coin is a fake - the edge is incorrect because a two element punch was used to create the coin. So it is NOT real (genuine).

The XRF test detected NO gold even though gold is the easiest to detect through toning and firescale. That places manufacture outside of Mexico. After 1850 if made in the UK or after 1870 if made in the US due to refining methods employed.

The silver to copper ratio 88-11 fits no standard category. However, accuracy of the ratio is suspect because a hand held XRF will not penetrate a layer of firescale. A lab level test that can read to 100 microns at a minimum might disclose more details of trace contaminants. I would look for rare earth elements pointing to a post 1970 manufacture using reclaimed silver.

Without that data or a Specific Gravity measurement nothing definitive can be said at present. Hand held even lab XRF can not penetrate deep enough to pass through a thick Sheffield plate.

Note that the wear on the faces does not match the edge. This combined with a higher than standard weight makes me suspect a modern Numismatic Forgery from China.

Also the edges of the coin show arcs never seen on flat struck coins. Most UK and US products do NOT have this arc, for that reason I am closer to the hypothesis that the coin is modern made for collectors.

I may be incorrect but scientific proof would be needed.

Bob - typical modern Chinese fake of the prototypical style (flat tone, soft impression, denticle problems). In fact - TWIN to the 1805 that surfaced along with the 1790 Lima, etc., that were discussed the other day:

http://goccf.com/t/295244

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1805-Spanis...322663150663