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 Replies: 9 / Views: 1,239 |
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New Member
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Hello collectors! It's been a while, I hope you're all good :) I'd like to bring to your attention this curious 8 reales minted under Charles III, possibly Mexico, 1776 (last number is not very visible) shaped into a pendant. It should come from a shipwreck, but the previous owner couldn't confirm it. I assumed it looking at the corrosion and black patina. Have you ever seen a similar one before? I have my own theorises but can you give me your idea about the shape? What does it resemble for you? Many thanks in advance    |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
That's very interesting for sure.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10038 Posts |
Very interesting item. I know its not, but it looks like an upside down jellyfish to me!
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2 |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5246 Posts |
It resembles a disaster to me!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2003 Posts |
Looks sort of like a bomb with flames. Similar to a military branch of service insignia I think that was used by the French.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7955 Posts |
That would be the Italian Carabinieri. Good association (I have used that myself on an even earlier coin ... but was wrong).
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
It looks like a close relative to my Charles X pinback fabricated from a 5F.  As with your charming pendant, it's puzzling why anyone would want to wear the image of a terrible king. April Fools Day maybe. It could be a very crude heart coin.Sedwick has several pictures of good ones. https://www.sedwickcoins.com/articles/hearts.htm"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
05/12/2021 11:14 pm
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New Member
 United Kingdom
29 Posts |
thanks for all your replies :D However I disagree to those who say that this is a "disaster" or a modern artefact. @thq got it right in my opinion: I believe it has been cut to resemble a flamed heart, not made to be worn, but as a votive offering to a saint in fulfilment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion. In many churches in south Italy, especially around the coast (but also Spain and Portugal) it's still possible to find ex voto painting, or silver pendants, given by devoted sailors who managed to escape pirate attacks (Barbary pirates) or sea storms...    |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
The cracks look like the result of heavy clamping to do the reshaping.
Sedwick talks about counterfeit heart coins, but I don't think that is the case with this one. It's just too crude.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
Edited by thq
05/13/2021 12:13 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7955 Posts |
Even though the shape is not so heart-like, I like your hypothesis The crudeness might reflect that the sailor had limited tools to accomplish this (like WWI trench art executed on spent shells). As for the flaming bomb hypothesis of @MisterT, perhaps this is the coin he referred to (also Italian in origin)  |
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Replies: 9 / Views: 1,239 |
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Posted 05/12/2021 12:39 pm
