Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 3/22/2006

Question
I FOUND A STRANGE COIN AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS, IT IS DATED 1789, ON THE FRONT IT HAS A STRANGE LOOKING MAN, COULD BE ENGLISH,  IT SAYS ON FRONT,CAROLUS IV, DET GRATIA AND ON BACK IT SAYS HISPAN ET IND REX M 8R F M AND HAS A CREST OF SOME KIND AND A CROWN.COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT IT IS PLEASE?

Answer
sorry, not an expert on non-US coins and my only reference book on world coins starts in 1900 and it's pretty big at that.  I have two suggestions, 1. go to www.google.com and do a search for coin and Carolus IV and 1789 (or maybe leave the year off) and see what comes up, if nothing try a couple variations with the words on your piece.  Then try the same at www.ebay.com and see if anyone is selling one like yours.  Hope this helps, Jim Lawniczak