Expert: Brad Swain - 12/26/2009

Question
Hi Brad,
I have a coin i would like to know is value. Is a Carolus III, *1783*. It reads on the front: *HISPAN* TE IND REX*Z."with a very small ( s) on top of the dot after the Z", 8R*R*G* It also says on the colums (PLUS ULTRA)
The coin condition is in almost it 100% good condition.
Regards

Answer
Hi Daniel, It seems to be a fake of a silver dollar sized Spanish-Mexican 8 Reales. That design features King Charles III (1760-88). The R and G were the Zacatecas mint's assayers' initials 1820-22. The Zacatecas mint was not established until 1810 and its mintmark is indeed a Z with a small s beside it. It should weigh 27.07 grams and would contain .7860 of an ounce of silver.
You might also try a library for a copy of the Standard Catalog of World Coins for pictures, values and lots more interesting info.
The “Spanish Milled Dollar” and its fractions were the principal currency through the early 1800s in U.S. everyday circulation and were legal tender as late as 1857.
You might find similar pieces on Ebay.com for comparison. These sites are also a great info source:
http://carlclegg.com/pillars/design.html .
http://www.coinsite.com/content/faq/8RealesMilledPillar.asp .
Counterfeits and fantasy pieces 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