Piece of Eight (1783 Spanish Dollar. Charles III. Shipwreck Coin)

Bought this at the flea-market today from a local coin dealer...



The coin on the left, in case you're confused. I've researched it as best I can, and it certainly looks the part, and matches both in appearance and condition, other Spanish dollar shipwreck coins I've seen online, which were authenticated as being the real thing.

The one on the right weighs 26.3g, and the one on the left weighs 23.6g. But then, the one on the left is somewhat smaller than the one on the right due to wear and abrasion, likely from the seawater and sand. Other than that, they match in appearance, milling, and thickness, etc, etc...

 

The corrosion looks more like casting error

 

Do you think it's a fake then?

 

I have an RE magnet. It didn't stick, and it rang like silver.

 

Yeah the magnet slid right off. Or vice-versa.

 

In that case I'll take it to the coin-dealer in town and see what he says about it. He sold me the one on the right.

 

I know zip about coins but I’d think a silver coin minted in 1783 would have some patina. Coin on left obviously lacks it. If real, maybe it was chemically cleaned and left in a corrosive fluid too long, removing enough metal to both leave pits and remove the weight difference noted. Is cleaning old coins a common practice?

 

Did the magnet slide off that one also ?

 

Yes it did. Same reaction to both coins. And I got the 1802 one from a dealership in the city that's been in business for nearly 100 years. They process dozens, hundreds of coins a day.

 

well....maybe they were so happy to have one....they missed something...??

 

I questioned them and they were absolutely adamant that theirs was real. They had a longstanding reputation as coin-dealers, so...

 

Well then...I hope it's legit !

 

It's hard to know who's word to accept with this stuff, but I would rather go with a business where their whole uh...business...is dealing coins and therefore their reputation rests on what they sell...

 

Point taken...but 2nd opinions are always good too..

I know an auction house who's rep comes from dealing with Native American items..but they will sell fakes knowingly...cuz the money's good.

 

RATS....now I've gotta go dig out my 3 coins..................but not tonight.....

 

Can anyone answer my coin cleaning question?