Carolus III Coin?

Hello and welcome to the forum.

There are plenty of members here that will be able to help you.

To make it easier do you have a scan of the other side?

Interesting coin. I can't find it in my book.

Maybe someone else can help.

I would have a guess at a British type coin.

BTW, this is refered to as a "pillar dollar", which was a very popular piece in the early history of US money.
due to a shortage of small change, these were often cut into halves (4-reales), fourths (2-reales), and eighths (1-reales). The small 1/8th wedge were called "bits". 2 bits (or 2 reales) were equal to one-fourth of a dollar, which is where the modern US quarter gets it's nickname as "2-bits."

Does anyone know what it is worth?

I have a few of these. Actually, this is the type that came after the classic "pillar dollar" as defined in the Red Book, but this type would have circulated alongside it (and would probably have been more common in the later years). Often, these are referred to as "pillar dollars" as well. Sometimes, I hear the term "portrait dollar" for these, to contrast them with the classic pillar dollars which have no portrait.

Common dates of these "portrait dollars" usually go for less money than the pillar dollars, but they are still good coins to have, and they definitely circulated in the U.S. until 1857.

I don't know what the current value would be (they may have been subject to the recent run-up in coin prices), but when I bought mine about ten years ago, they were typically about $25 to $50, depending on date and grade. Mine are low to mid-grade (G to VF); no fantastic ones, and all common dates. The earlier pillar dollars, in contrast, often run about $200, thanks largely to their Red Book fame. Given that the pillar dollars seem to be about as common, the portrait dollars represent a great value, since they are of the same historical interest.

By the way, fractional denominations exist for both the pillar and portrait series; 1/2, 1, and 2 reales are quite common and inexpensive; I have quite a few of these. 4 reales (half dollar size) are hard to come by and are often more scarce and expensive than the dollars.

These coins were made in a number of different mints in the New World, with Mexico City issues being among the most common. Similar types were also made in Spain.

Heather

Here's a short piece I typed up on the pillar minor, which was Heather mentioned was this coin's earlier version... the pillar design was replaced by the bust under King Charles III.

Nothing here is particularly difficult to find information, but a collection of information found in some common resources.

http://www.rickscoinstop.com/Misc_S...essay002.htm

Bust dollar:

A portrait or "bust" dollar from 200 years ago.
King Charles IV (IIII) was III's son.