Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 9/4/2009

Question
Hello.  I have a 1792... Gold... Charles IIII.... 8 Escudos... coin. On the front it says "Carol IIII D.C."  "Hisperino R."  On the back it has the Crowned Shield with an "8" on the left and an "S" on the right.  Then it says "Utro. Felix."  "Auspice DEO."  It is larger than a US Quarter and much heavier. It is well worn and dirty, but I was told not to clean it.  The dirt comes right off though.  Do you know what this is?  And maybe the value of it?  I am having a hard time finding information on this exact coin.  Thank you again so much and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Answer
Hi Kate,
Sounds to me like a Mexican gold 8 escudos. I've attached a picture of a similar coin (with a different date). If your coin has an M with a small O above it and an FM at the bottom of the side that says "Auspice DEO", then it's a sure thing.
You mentioned this coin is larger than a quarter: the genuine item is much larger... about the size of a silver dollar and weighing close to 27 grams. Please note that a heavily worn coin will be a gram or two lighter.
As far as authenticity is concerned, I will need a clear picture. If you can take one, just ask a follow up question and attach the photo. There are plenty of fakes for these types of coins.
You should never clean a coin with a cloth or chemical solution. However, if your coin simply has superficial dirt on the surface a light cleaning with warm water in just fine. You can also dip coins in mouth wash and nail polish remover in order to do a light cleaning without making the coin seem cleaned (This is a bit of a "trade secret").
Value on your coin is quite high in excellent condition, well over $2,000. For a really worn, but genuine, piece the value is slightly above bullion. Since the coin contains nearly 3/4 ounce of gold, you can expect a market value of $800-$1000+, depending just how worn it is.
Also worth mentioning... many of these are weakly struck, which is often confused for wear. Your coin may actually be better than you think.
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Thanks for the question! =)