However, it is much more feasible that America’s future president, in the unlikely event that he did throw a coin across a river, actually tossed it over the much narrower Rappahannock River. Some may also recall being told the tale that a young George Washington once threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Those interested in pirate lore should know the Spanish 8-real coin is the coin being referred to when swashbucklers demanded “pieces of eight.” In fact, Spanish coinage was accepted as legal tender here until the practice was outlawed by Congress in 1857. Spanish silver coinage provided the backbone of the American economy for many decades. While this piece is not an especially valuable coin, it is a historical coin. If sold to a coin dealer, he or she would probably place an offer based on its silver weight. As this coin has been well circulated, it has probably lost some of its silver weight. A freshly struck 8-real coin has an actual silver weight of 0.7797 ounce. More likely, if offered for sale, the coin’s silver content would be the prime determinant of its value. Matwijcow’s item is heavily circulated, and would likely be graded as Very Good at best. The Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, gives the 1788 8-real coin values of $25 in Very Good, $45 in Fine, $75 in Very Fine and $150 in Extremely Fine. If indeed genuine, the coin is somewhat common. Ultimately, this piece would need to be examined by an expert in order to truly determine its authenticity.įrom the pictures sent (which could not be reproduced here) it does appear to match up well with authentic coins, but these coins are frequently counterfeited, particularly in China, so caution is needed when buying or selling. The piece depicts Carolus III (or Charles III) of Spain on its obverse and the Spanish royal coat of arms on its reverse.Ī small “o” placed atop a capital “M” on the reverse is its Mint mark and signifies a coin struck at the Mexico City Mint.
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