Expert: Brad Swain - 11/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dear Brad,

could you please help me to find the value of the following gold coin:

front: CAROL IIII.DG.HISP.ET IND.R 1795 and on the
back of it it reads AUSPICE.DEO.IN.UTRO.FELIX.

Worth: 4 S

thank you very much in advance

regards
Martina

ANSWER: Hi Martina, It is likely a Spanish colonial 4 Escudos. That design features King Charles III (1760-88).
If genuine this 87.5% gold coin should weigh 13.5337 grams and would contain .3807 of an ounce of gold. The two letters after DEO are the assayers' initials and the next letter is the mint mark. An F and M are the Mexico City mint's assayers' initials. The Mexico City mintmark is an M with a small o over it.
Collector value of a coin depends on date, mint mark (if any), number minted and condition of a coin, including amount of wear, any dents, scratches or cleaning as well as collector demand for it.
Collector value may be from the gold value, currently about $450 up to around $750 with moderate wear to maybe $1500 with light wear depending on the price of gold, wear and demand.
Current gold and silver values: http://www.kitco.com/market/ .
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info. You might find similar pieces on Ebay.com for comparison.
Brad

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:
Dear Brad,

thank you very much for the prompt answer.

It's exactly what you write on my coin: An F and M  mint's assayers' initials and an M with a small o over it, the mintmark.

The condition of my coin is very good, it's clean and has nearly no scratches.

Hope I'll find the right buyer for it.

Thanks again!
Martina

Answer
Hi Martina, selling it on Ebay.com may reach the widest audience and have the best competitive results.
Counterfeits mass produced in East Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe abound of Chinese and U.S. coins, and many other countries'.
Weighing it may be the best telltale of its genuineness.
Fakes: http://reviews.ebay.com/Fake-8-4-and-2-Reales-coins-from-ASIA-BEWARE_W0QQugidZ10
Chinese counterfeit factory: http://coins.about.com/od/worldcoins/ig/Chinese-Counterfeiting-Ring/Chinese-Fake .
Brad