1170 Cap And Rays (Only In The Philippines)

Pandesalapi I for one would be VERY interested in acquiring a few of that type. If there are very many varieties - it could become a sub-type "based on use" in my proposed book. There are other examples of Spanish Dollar designs being used for a variety of purposes, but the Cap and Ray 8R was not used too many times for non-monetary purposes.

I would definitely like to know more about this interesting variety.

The very interesting coin/medal has arrived.

The date is 1770 (the second digit has a lightly engraved crossbar).

Does the date 1770 have any significance in the history of the Philippines or of the group that used the coin?

Also how common is the type? and is there anyplace where more examples would be available? I would also be interested in a catalog of photographs of your friend's collection. It would make a great sub-section.

I want to thank you publicly for sending this coin to me.

There is no particular significance on the date 1770 in Philippine history that I know of.
I will try to ask my friend (well-known collector at the same time office in a Coin Club here) if he is willing to take pictures of his complete anting-anting coins.
The religious sect that used some of these coins was under their leader Valentin Delos Santos. As of the moment I have not heard from them even in news here.
Likewise Thanks Bob for your commitment to share to us your knowledge, and the pleasure is mine giving that coin to you as well

swamperbob: could you post an image of the other side of the "coin"? Surely you have already done the relative density test, is it silver? Is it cast or struck?

In relation to the date... between 1762-1764 there was a revolt around San Carlos City (Binalatongan) in the Negros Occidental Province in Philippines known as the "Palaris Revolt", its leader was Pantaleon Perez also known as Juan Palaris, due to his skill fencing a rattan or bamboo cane. Palaris was said to possess the power of an anting-anting which made him invincible. The Spaniards eventually defeated Palaris, but at a very high cost, since more than 1200 rebels were killed with a vast destruction of property. Charles III heard of these facts (basically the destruction of the premier city of a province including its main church) and ordered the transfer of the city to another place for a new beginning and a new name for it (San Carlos City). The construction of the new church began in 1770, built with bricks the building is 89 meters long, 22 meters width and a height of 18 meters.

So maybe an amulet invoking the invincibility of Palaris with the date of the new church, but this is a very local event, and the anting-anting as mentioned are widespread in the Philippines, so who knows...