1767 Mexico 8 Reales - With Extensive Doubling Of The Obverse

I have finally decided to start a thread on an obvious Numismatic Forgery that is selling for far too much compared to its actual value.

The coin is https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mexico-8-R...114149069568

Here is one example of the obverse and edge photos posted by the sellers (typical of all).



This is a horrible forgery that is poorly executed and uses an incorrect edge design. All examples I have seen come from the Ukraine and there are multiple sellers of this piece of junk. There is absolutely no excuse for anyone believing this coin to be genuine. Anyone who has done any checking at all on the type should realize the following (add a BIG RED "Caution is advised" after each comment):

1. Most Pillar 8Rs on ebay are fake.
2. Bargains do not exist on ebay. Beware low prices
3. Most coins posted by Ukrainian sellers are fake.
4. Identical coins of this type are fake.
5. Dies made in the 1760-70 period were NOT HUBBED.
6. Doubled die impressions on Pillar coins are fake.
7. Screw press strikes with raised edges are fake.
8. Pillar dollars use lozenze shaped dentils.
9. Edge details never terminate short of the edge.
10. A streaked black patina is a warning sign.

I just checked ebay and found that so far 47 examples of the IDENTICAL coin (created from matching dies/molds) have already been sold. Prices range from a low of $32 to a high just over $128.

The spread of bids is prima fascia proof of shill bidding targeting a price in the $40-$60 range. There were 41 of 52 sales were in that range. Only three examples sold in the $30-40 range and 8 sold for more than $60. Prices were higher when this coin first appeared. Of the 8 that sold above $60, six of those sales happened in the first two weeks.

This is a melt coin. This coin has NO ACTUAL VALUE AT ALL OVER MELT.

I estimate the melt value at 2-3 cents. I estimate actual production cost at about $ 0.50 max. Fair retail value $5 ($10 including shipping) and all examples should be stamped COPY that are mailed to the US.

The only exception are researchers like myself who enjoy personally examining Numismatic Forgeries for classification and collectors of numismatic forgeries. Some very altruistic people who have plenty of money to waste might bid on these to destroy them. By now collectors of Numismatic Forgeries should realize that this one is still in production. It should hit bottom price in less than a year.


I would pay no more that $15 total to see this one at the present time. I would prefer to pay $5 or less however.

So any opinions about why so many people are willing to waste so much? Average sale since Dec 15, 2019 $ 57.50. Total sales of over $2,700 to date ( a period of about 12 weeks).

One is posted now and I have made my top bid of $ 15.01.