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COIN
Unique ID: LVPL-998C71
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A post-medieval gilded lead-alloy contemporary copy of a Spanish 4 reales of Philip II (1556-1598) or Philip III (1598-1621). The addition of the Hapsburg heraldry to the Spanish shield dates the 'coin' to after 1570.
It is unclear whether this coin copies a Spanish-minted variety or one minted in the New World, although it may be copying the slightly squashed shape of the 'cob' coins minted in South America. The weight, at 6.8g matches the listed weights for 2 reales rather than 4 reales. The gilding would result in the coin not being an adequate imitation for circulation and would not, in any likelihood, have passed for a real coin unless its foreigness allowed it to fool.
Obverse: Crowned shield bearing the arms of Spain and its territories.
Reverse: Cross within double octofoil; lion rampant and castle in alternate quarters.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1570
Date to: Circa AD 1650
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 32.94 mm
Width: 29.13 mm
Thickness: 2.79 mm
Weight: 6.8 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st May 2014
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Primary material: Lead Alloy
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: 4 reales
Ruler/issuer: Phillip II of Spain
Type: Spain: silver 4 reales of Phillip II (Clemente and Cayon 3718-3892)
Obverse description: Shield of Spain including Hapsburg territories
Obverse inscription: illegible
Reverse description: Central cross with alternating lion and castle in the angles of the cross.
Reverse inscription: illegible
Degree of wear: Very worn: fair
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial metadata
County or Unitary authority: Cheshire West and Chester (Unitary Authority)
District: Cheshire West and Chester (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Kingsley
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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Timeline of associated dates
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