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BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales contemporary counterfeit, Philip III, assayer not visible, ex-Atocha R

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Shipwreck Coins Start Price:800.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales contemporary counterfeit, Philip III, assayer not visible, ex-Atocha R
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BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales contemporary counterfeit, Philip III, assayer not visible, ex-Atocha Research Collection (coin 219, "probably period counterfeit"). KM-10. 17.63 grams. At first this appears to be just a moderately corroded genuine coin, but its "ring" is incorrect for silver and in fact XRF testing shows it is debased with tin (83.44% silver, 9.17% tin, 3.84% copper, and 1.53% lead), yet the details are correct (full shield and cross) as it was cast from a genuine coin and then circulated, another very rare and fascinating certified counterfeit from the early 1600s like lots 144 and 145 above. With original Fisher tag and photo-certificate 85A-237745. Photocopy of original Atocha Research Collection catalog to be provided to winning bidder upon request. Recovered from: Atocha, sunk in 1622 west of Key West, Florida