My seven year old son was playing on a beach near San Francisco and found this coin. Since he loves pirates and old ships he was very excited to find his very own treasure.

The design is somewhat similar to http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/...ain/cinquin.jpg, so I'm guessing 1500 or 1600 Spanish Reale.

Does anyone have any clues beyond what I'm guessing as to what this coin is?

WOW! So jealous.

You know, now, that he'll never get over treasure hunting, since he's actually found something? Time to start digging up the backyard!

You have the time period and country correct, but it's a replica. No reason you have to spoil it for the boy just yet though.

Thanks for the info. It occured to me that this might be a replica that someone threw into the water years ago, and it washed up and aged over the years (we had to clean it up quite a bit). It seems a more realistic possibility, so I was half expecting this response. It also doesn't feel heavy enough to be silver.

As you said though, it really doesn't matter either way since this coin (his treasure) is staying with him and his imagination. It also gives me a chance to interest him in the history of the Spanish explorers in California at the time.