Swamperbob Is This Thing Real?

Bryan1315 - that is a VERY nice original 1845 San Luis Potosi 8R.

If you could post a larger shot of the 5 in the date - I would like to check for the overdate variety.

The coin itself is a scarce date and about "normal" as far as level of preservation. The eagle variety is from a modified punch used between 1842 and 1850. The largest cactus pad punch has the confirming chip in the lower left corner (which first appears in 1844). The eagle itself may have been slightly double punched when they made the die. This year was NOT a hub produced die - so punching variations die to die are expected and interesting.

The prices in Krause are about 20% low for Potosi coins of this age.

There are some specimens that were made from debased silver in this period but that was a mint related fraud and the coins are NOT classified by most collectors as Counterfeit.