Going through my treasure box, I found some pirate treasure! I don't remember how I acquired this piece, but it's really nice! Probably an ebay lot from long ago.
I'm grateful that this coin was labeled, it would have been tricky identifying this coin. But there are enough clues to figure it out.
The proper orientation of the obverse:
Looking very carefully at the right side of the shield, one can see "623". This is the mint date of 1623!
The obverse is a shield with a lion standing on it's hind legs. I found this depiction online that more clearly shows the lion.
Image Source
Because it had been clipped so many times, the weight was no longer correct, so a stamp was hammered on the obverse (and reverse) with the roman numeral VIII. Just so there's no question of it's intended weight.
The reverse is clearer, especially the "VIII" stamp. The shield on the reverse is of a castle. I like that this coin has retained it's original copper color, but other specimines show the detail better.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IbEAAOSwf0xj19ub/s-l1600.webp
Image Source
The reverse had the original "VIII" for 8, clearly denoting it's value. Eventually, it became a chunk of metal with an "VIII" stamped on it.
This Spanish 8 maravedis copper coin was minted in Madrid, Spain during the rule of King Philip IV. The obverse of this coin features a rampant lion in a crowned shield with the 1623 date and the legend HISPANIARVM REX "King of Spain". The reverse shows a castle in a crowned shield with the legend PHILIP PVS IV D G "Philip IV, by the grace of God". It also has "VIII" for 8 maravedis. Source
This copper likely was mined in America (perhaps even northern Michigan) and shipped back to Spain.
The 1 silver real coin was too large and valuable for normal trade, so copper denominations were created. A silver real coin was valued at 34 maravedis. There were 8, 4, 2 and 1 copper maravedis minted, this one being the highest denomination copper coin.
These coins were traded in the Americas in the colonies in the 17th and 19th centuries.
This is my oldest (mostly) readable dated coin in my collection.
Bless the Most High!
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