Expert: Dmitry Livshits - 4/1/2010

Question
i have a 1714 doubloon, what are the odds that it is real? the weight is 5.5 or 6.5 grams. i looked them up on the net and everything looks right. if it is real what would be the projected price on it? i messed up and cleaned it with toothpaste. i know that hurt the price on it,but how bad?

Answer
Hi Johnny,
The good news is, if you rubbed it with toothpaste, which is an abrasive, and it still shines a bright gold color you most likely do have a genuine coin. Most counterfeits are gold over other materials and the toothpaste would just take off the gold layer on these, exposing the metal beneath.
The cleaning would most certainly hurt the value on something like this. If it were a certified shipwreck coin the cleaning would be expected. This is not the case with a regular one.
Just how much it hurts the value depends on exactly where the coin was minted. They were made in Spain and also the Spanish colonies in Central and South America.
I can definitely give you a more exact estimate if you post a follow-up question with a picture of the coin. Or you can tell me the legends written around the perimeter on both sides.
Thanks for the question! =)