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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How can I tell if
my columnario is fake or real?
This is an important question. Many fake
columnarios abound in the coin market and some of the
current-generation counterfeits are extremely well-crafted.
We now offer an authentication service for columnarios.
Contact us
to ask us for more information about this service and how it
works.
What is a columnario?
For a detailed explanation including some key features, click
here.
Who runs this website?
This website is a personal endeavor of Carl Clegg, a
collector and professional numismatist.
Are you a dealer?
I am a professional numismatist. I do buy, sell, and trade as
most in the profession do.
If I could only
have one resource on columnarios, what would it be?
After this website (when it's complete), your single best
resource for columnarios is Frank F. Gilboy's The Milled
Columnarios of Central and South America. (see resources)
I have a columnario
-- how much is it worth?
Depends on year, mint mark, condition, etc. It could
be worth $100 or $500 or $10,000 or more. Most columnarios in
fine condition shape are worth at least $250. Chop marks,
sea salvage, or excessive wear can reduce the value. Rarity
and higher grades can increase the value.
Contact
us
with more information on your coin and we'd be happy to give
you an opinion.
Are four reales
columnarios worth half what eight reales are worth?
Actually, most four reales dates are typically rarer than their
eight reales counterparts and command more in the numismatic
marketplace. Values are tied closer to rarity than
denomination.
I have Chinese
characters stamped on my columnario -- what's this all about
and how does it impact value?
These are called chopmarks and indicate that the coin
was at one point used for trade with China most likely
during the nineteenth century. While chopmarks are very
interesting and some collectors focus on them, they
generally are considered damage and lower the value of the
coin. Below is an example of a chopped 1768 MF Mexico
columnario. To learn more about chopmarks go to www.chopmarks.com
and look under "Columnarios" section.
Have a question about columnarios?
Contact
us.
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