Part of a clump I bought a couple years ago.....this is what was inside ?

[sumorada]

When I first opened this I found a 1 reale ( see pic ) and under it was what at one time a larger
cob that was just black dust, but that half of the encrusted piece was still pretty heavy ( about 24 gr ) so I started removing the black with a mild solution and Q-tips, what I found under the black is an intaglio of a 8 reale, at first I thought it was just an impression of a large cob that had disintegrated but the more I looked at it I thought it looked more like a die...or broken off end of a die...?

Would love to hear some opinions....also the metal does not appear to be silver..?

Thanks in advance...

[goldcoastwayne]

First of all...welcome to Treasure Net. You will find many here that are more than happy to help you out identifying your finds.
I would really like to see the other side. The imprinted cross and markings seem to match those of the Potosi, Bolivia mint in the early 1600's (somewhat pointed cross converging near a semi-circular design outside the cross). If we could see the shield on the other side, I could possibly tell you more. I used the plate from "The Practical Book of Cobs, 2nd ed., pg. 85 top photo. (Frank Sedwick) That particular coin was dated 1617. With the other side we could identify the mint and assayer, if visible. As far as a die...I doubt it..I think it is an impression of the coin. If some of the scholars come forward, they will certainly tell you more and what I may have overlooked. All in all....very nice find!!

goldcoastwayne

[capt dom]

When you find these black clumps or E.O. 's
some pretty interesting things are going on inside them
over time. Unlike the "timeless time capsule" bull crap
the public employed archeologists espouse....

The coins within them are sulfide ing at such a rate that
their base elements are rapidly leaching into the material nature
and time intends them to become a part of.....
Also some copper.... maybe a maravette got in the e.o. and deteriorated
first and the impression of the other coin was left in what is now left of the copper.

Hence the reversal of the strike... kinda like a natural die look
becomes a part of the natural process of the rate of
deterioration....

Just my un-professionally trained observation....