More Brother in Laws coins

coop · Expert Member

My brother in law gave me a few coins that he had. A couple of them are very old and worn. The first one is marked a 1/4 DE REAL (Can't tell what it is as the E looks like a square. The second one is much thicker than the 1/4 REAL (?) but has letters on the outside rim. (Twice as thick) the third is one of several he gave me. They date from the 1880-1890 era. He said they found a bunch of these in a well and wondered if they were worth anything. He gave me about 12 of them. They are from Mexico and as large a $1 SAC Coin.

Here are a few more interesting coins. A couple copper, other Aluminum and cupro coins. One is French, the others I'm not sure of. Maybe Smed will know and have an aproximate price for them?

Earwig · Veteran Member

the fierst 2 mexican coins are de real chances are the 1 that is twice as thick is a 2/4 de real. the other is a 1 cent mexican piece to my knowledge they have no exceptional value. Funny they wouldnt just use 1/2 ehhh

Eric

coop · Expert Member

I think it they were going for the bigger sound. 2/4 sounds like more than 1/2. Laughing

The 1 Centavo, they found over 500 coins in this well. All before the turn of the Century. Most are pitted, but a lot of copper weight though.

coppercoins · Site Admin

coin #1 is a British 2p. They still use these, so I figure no value above face. Face is about 3 cents.

coin #2 is a French 5 franc, also not woerth very much - a buck at most.

coin #3 is Switzerland, 20 heller. Last time I was there (1990) this was pocket change.

coin #4 is German, 5 mark. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this one has silver in it. 80% fine if I remember correctly. It's worth silver melt value. These are pretty common.

coin #5 is Irish. I don't know much else about it.

coop · Expert Member

Thanks Chuck. The British coin I though was a great example of fine copper. It is larger than a Quarter. The French coin was aluminum. I didn't know they even had that metal back then. (1947) I've wondered why more countries had used this metal in their coin age till a thought hit me. It is so light, it probably wouldn't trip an mechanism. It is larger than a half dollar and weighs less than a dime. (Just my guess) The Austrian coin I thought was a very nice design. Reminded me of the V nickel LIBERTY with the face going the opposite direction. The German coin is large, about the size of the half dollar. I like the design of this coin on the reverse. To bad it was just before the contraversial years for that country. They had a very nice design on that coin. The Irish coin I figured it was Irish, because of the harp, but the lettering threw me off as I could read what it said. The lettering looked Arabic, but the Bird didn't look like something associated with that area. There were more coins, but these were the most interesting looking.

Robert · Senior Member

Mexican coins (values from 1996 Krause):

left= 1/4 Real (pronounced "REE-al" I think), from the state of Chihuahua ("E. CHIHa LIBERTAD" surrounding seated figure). Made from 1860-1865. several overdates in that run. Krause says $2 in good. No mintage numbers available.

center = 1/8 Real, or "OCTAVO DE REAL". Krause says 1842 = $3 in good, $5 in vg. Only legend around seated figure is "LIBERTAD" and this coin is from the Republic of Mexico (federal), not the state of Chihuahua. Unknown mintage.

right = 1 centavo from the Republic of Mexico. Associated with their decimal (as opposed to Real-based) coinage system. 1890M (M=Mexico City mint) had 18.726 million made. Overdates exist. Value = $1.50 to $2.50 in F; $2 to $3 in VF.

Robert · Senior Member

Chuck pretty much nailed the rest.

French=46 million made. VF=35 cents, xf=1.50

Swiss 20 rappen (not heller) = 30 million made. xf=35 cents, unc = 1.50

German (Nazi) 5 mark is 90% sliver, 13.88 grams or 0.4016 ounces ASW (actual silver weight). Multiply the ASW by the spot price of siver and you get the melt value of the silver. Mint mark is hard to read... it's at the back of Hindenburg's neck to the left of "1847". I think it's a "G". If so, that's the Karlsruhe mint. There were 2.371 million made. I bet many were melted. VF=6.00, xf=12.50 but keep in mind these prices were printed when silver was $4.70 an ounce! So I would guess that the book value can be increased by another $4, so the vf might be $10 and XF could be as high as $16.50. They the same fineness but heavier than a silver half dollar.

Irish = one penny (writtin in Irish, below the hen). I believe the legend around the harp translates to "Irish Free State" with "EIRANN" meaning "Irish". Exactly 9 million made, f=75 cents, vf=1.50. Hard to grade given the low relief. I look at the detail on the thick upright of the harp. That year (1928) is the first year of modern Irish coins. I think they used British coins before that. Therefore 1928 was a high-mintage year for all Irish coins. Most issues from 1930s-1940s are harder to find. Many sub-million mintages and more than a few are less than 500K. Some are less than 100K. The silver coins are only 75% silver. Given low mintages and the kinship Irish-Americans feel toward Ireland, I have long though that these coins have great upside potential. Not sure why these haven't risen in value yet.

Robert · Senior Member

If I can help ID the rest, just post them here!

Dick · Expert Member

Mexico Used the decimal coinage after Maximillian came to power, 1864. The first "peso" was made, and used along with the 8 Reales. The peso was known as the Maximilliano". Mexico, then was known as the Republic of Mexico. When they came to the reform, they became The United States of Mexico, 1910-date. During this time, the 8 Reales:$1USD:$1P, The Peso was also known as the "Porfiriano". The "Alasana" was the gold coin that circulated, and was the 8 ESCUDOS. Equal to 16 Reales. I may be a bit off, on some of this. It's been while!
Dick

coppercoins · Site Admin

Whoops...I should have known the Swiss used the "rappen" and not the "heller" - gosh, I actually spent the things at one time. I believe "heller" belongs to one (or more) of the Scandinavian countries.

coop · Expert Member

Thanks guys. Looks like the one I told him that was the most valuable is. The copper Nickel. I've always wanted one of these off metal coin, and now I do have one. Again I do appreciate the help. My life revolves around Cents mainly and appreciate others expertise or materails they have and time. You guys are great!

Dick · Expert Member

Coop, this is not a "copper", but it is a nice looking "crown-sized coin". Soon as I get a photo, I'll post it.

not color correct, but what do you expect, when I am holding the 'scope up in the air, and shooting the photos!
Brazil, 1889, struck under a decree from 1879. 2000 REIS silver
Dick

coop · Expert Member

Nice looking reverse Dick. Some from Canada have something similiar. A nice look for coins in my opinion.

Dick · Expert Member

I agree, Coop. Too bad the US can't come up with some beauty, ( other than the ones that will "adorn" the reverse) in the Dollar series, along with the Presidents.
Dick

Robert · Senior Member

That's one of several reasons why I have come to prefer foreign coins to US.

-Style/design usually more interesting
-Often have higher purity silver
-"Old" for the US is not "old" for the rest of the world
-Mintages are often miniscule
-Often inexpensive
-Can be really easy or really challenging to find, whichever you prefer

etc etc

One day foreign coins will be "discovered" and then look out!