You are here:
Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Unknown coin
Advertisement
Question
My grandmother has a collection of coins that she's asked me to look through and I found one that I am almost certain is Greek. Unfortunately I don't read Greek. And it's lettering is chaotic. There is a grid on one side, down the center of which it says 8 V 3, off to the right are those charming reverse V characters and a 6, with a cross on the flip side. There are pictographs on this side as opposed to lettering, and it's edges are uneven. It looks like something you'd see in a pirate movie. I only wish I could add a picture. Please help?
)
This is indeed something you would see in a pirate movie, being a Spanish colonial cob coin. This should be a fairly large piece, since the marking you mentioned are those of the largest denomination, an 8 reales. Your coins would date from the mid 1600's to right around 1700. I have attached a picture of a similar example.
Unfortunately there are many mints and marks that determine value on these coins, as well a a multitude of counterfeits that are out there. I would not be able to determine an exact value for your coin without seeing clear pictures of both sides.
It could be worth anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars.
Thanks for the question! =)
- Add to this Answer
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | No Comment | ||
Related Articles
- Cherrypickers Bragging Rights Page
- Easy Magic Trick Vanishing a Coin - Vanishing a Coin
- Improving Pool Skills - Going Mental - Pool & Pocket Billiards Skill
- Looks like a young woman - Reader Review: Ice Sculpture Ghost picture
- Valley Tulips Needlepoint Pattern - Instructions for the Valley Tulips Needlepoint Pattern
Answers by Expert:
Dmitry Livshits
Expertise
My specialty is world coins from the 18th to 20th centuries, primarily non-US foreign coins and related areas such as errors and exonumia (tokens, medals, etc.). I can answer questions relating to identification, grading, selling, preservation and evaluation of such items. In addition to catalog value, I can give you the practical market value and trends for specific types of coins. I will also take questions regarding counterfeits (both modern and antique) and on how to identify them. I am NOT knowledgeable in paper money/banknotes, ancient or "shipwreck" coins. Thank you.
Experience
Collector of world coins since early childhood. Access to a variety of auction records and reference material. You can also find me on Facebook.
Education/Credentials
A.S. in Psychology (2006), B.A. in Forensic Psychology (2008), M.A. in Forensic Psychology (2011).
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.