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How to Read the Date on a Piece of Eight

A piece of eight, also known as the Spanish dollar and the 8-real coin, first appeared in 1497 as part of the Spanish Empire's attempt to reform its currency. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the Spanish Empire spanned much of the globe, and so the piece of eight became the first internationally accepted form of currency. It was the precursor of the American dollar, and was legal to spend in the United States until 1857. Reading the date can help you figure out which Spanish monarch authorized the design of your coin, as each one wanted his own version. Finding the date, though, is not much different than with any of the other coins in your pocket.

Instructions

- 1
  Ensure that you are carrying an actual piece of eight. If you are new to coin collecting, you'll want to take it to a coin dealer in your town or consult world coin price guides.
- 2
  Look for the four-digit number at the bottom of the coin's "heads," or obverse side. All Spanish pieces of eight feature the date in this same location, and it is the only four-digit number on either side of any version. Many versions of the piece of eight feature the reigning Spanish monarch on one side with four digits at the bottom. In most versions, the "tails," or reverse side, contains the royal crest of Spain. If you're looking at the crest, you need to turn the coin over to find the date. One notable version that features the crest on the reverse side but does not feature the monarch on the obverse side was the one authorized by King Philip V in 1739. The date is still on the obverse side of this version.
- 3
  Heat a shovel or other metallic surface in a fire until it becomes red with the heat, if your coin has so much wear that the date has smoothed away. Then, put the coin on this heated metal. The heating will make any smoothed-over features, including the date, stand out. Do not touch the blade of the shovel with your hands once you have put it into the fire, and do not pick up the coin with your hand once you have put it on the shovel's blade. Have a metal bucket of water standing by to cool the shovel and the coin after you've seen the date. After you've cooled the coin and the shovel in the water, use a pair of metal tongs to pick up the coin as a precaution.

Coin Collecting