What is the oldest coin you have?

[Pyrite]

Spanish Milled Dollars or Pieces of Eight are very interesting as they were legal tender in the United States until 1857. The banking system in place back then did not have sufficient quantities of Dollars and because of that had to rely on those Pillar Dollars. The large numbers of Bust Halves extant also filled the needs of the industry...

Those pillar dollars are REALLY appreciating. Also the fractions. 1/2 Real, 1, 2 and 4...... Finally finding the true interest.
I love em.

[LeadHead]

My oldest? an 1857 Flying Eagle cent that I found in my own yard with a metal detector. It's pretty worn and corroded, but identifiable.

Not worn much, but meaningful to me, anyway.

[300WBY]

Those pillar dollars are REALLY appreciating. Also the fractions. 1/2 Real, 1, 2 and 4...... Finally finding the true interest.
I love em.

If you search for Pillar coinage you'll find the 4 Reales the scarcest of them. The 8 Reales probably the most frequently found...

[windweaver77]

My oldest coin is from the third century B.C. in silver. Got some older Greek and Roman stuff, but it is common coinage.

[motocat]

Spanish Milled Dollars or Pieces of Eight are very interesting as they were legal tender in the United States until 1857. The banking system in place back then did not have sufficient quantities of Dollars and because of that had to rely on those Pillar Dollars. The large numbers of Bust Halves extant also filled the needs of the industry...

Yes, that's exactly why I'm interested in getting them, had a very important place in the history of coinage used in the U.S. and it is from what our dollar derived from. I will be looking more into this soon, any suggestion in terms of one you can get in relatively good condition and is a common mintage (to be less costly - I'm not collecting for rare dates, yet).

[windweaver77]

Yes, that's exactly why I'm interested in getting them, had a very important place in the history of coinage used in the U.S. and it is from what our dollar derived from. I will be looking more into this soon, any suggestion in terms of one you can get in relatively good condition and is a common mintage (to be less costly - I'm not collecting for rare dates, yet).

Here's some Spanish stuff I have come upon.
https://youtu.be/olOAMWxWuW8

[300WBY]

Yes, that's exactly why I'm interested in getting them, had a very important place in the history of coinage used in the U.S. and it is from what our dollar derived from. I will be looking more into this soon, any suggestion in terms of one you can get in relatively good condition and is a common mintage (to be less costly - I'm not collecting for rare dates, yet).

The Mexico City minted pieces are in most demand in the U.S. and they are usually struck a bit better than the other new world minted pieces such as Guatemala, Chile, Bolivia, Columbia and Peru. They are also in high demand in Mexico. I would advise to stay away from cobbs because they are more easily faked and the portrait (later versions) because they are in somewhat lesser demand. The dates range from 1732-1772. The Pillars and the New world/Old world is where the Dollar sign originated, so there is a history lesson on them and the many stories about them make these Pillar Dollars special.
I have a few certified 4 and 8 Reales from shipwrecks that never made their way back to Spain and with the exception of the toning from being at the bottom of the ocean for 150 or more years would be mint state coins...

[motocat]

The Mexico City minted pieces are in most demand in the U.S. and they are usually struck a bit better than the other new world minted pieces such as Guatemala, Chile, Bolivia, Columbia and Peru. They are also in high demand in Mexico. I would advise to stay away from cobbs because they are more easily faked and the portrait (later versions) because they are in somewhat lesser demand. The dates range from 1732-1772. The Pillars and the New world/Old world is where the Dollar sign originated, so there is a history lesson on them and the many stories about them make these Pillar Dollars special.
I have a few certified 4 and 8 Reales from shipwrecks that never made their way back to Spain and with the exception of the toning from being at the bottom of the ocean for 150 or more years would be mint state coins...

Looks like I'll be looking for some of those Pillar Dollars. I'm not looking for certified, as I want to be able to handle the actual metal -- just ones in good enough condition to make out the basic design clearly. Fine/extra fine is good enough, hope to be able to find several to share when presenting to kids on the the history of the dollar.

[motocat]

Here's some Spanish stuff I have come upon.
https://youtu.be/olOAMWxWuW8

Thanks for sharing -- does your cat take greater interest in any particular coins?

[300WBY]

Looks like I'll be looking for some of those Pillar Dollars. I'm not looking for certified, as I want to be able to handle the actual metal -- just ones in good enough condition to make out the basic design clearly. Fine/extra fine is good enough, hope to be able to find several to share when presenting to kids on the the history of the dollar.

Hey Moto, the certified coins I was speaking of are certified in origin not grade. They came from the treasure salvors in the 1970's that recovered the wreck of the Hollandia sunk in 1743 and the Reygersdahl wreck of 1747. I like the feel of them too and I have some others that are higher grade specimens...