Cobb Need ID and History

[SeanHM]

Hi Guys,

Picked up this 4 reale in Bali had the besel made while I was in Bali. I know its real but would like some background information. I was told it is from Lima Peru and the date was between 1698 to 1710 and it is a grade 1. Can someone verify that for me and also tell me what its worth.
Regards,
Sean

[Diver_Down]

The dates that were given don't match up with the details. It is a 4 reale from Potosi with an assayer of R. With the Hapsburg shield, it would place it during the time of Phillip II or III. Looking up the assayer isn't as clear cut as Alonso Rincon was the first from 1574-1576. Baltasar Ramos Laceta served from 1603 - 1612. Both used the curved right leg of the R. If I had to guess between the two, I would choose Baltasar Ramos Laceta as his R's were much cruder.

[SeanHM]

Diver_Down,

Thank you for the Back ground info. What grade do you think the coin is and apraisal value?
Info on the Cobb was speculation at best when I picked it up.
Regards,
Sean

[realeswatcher]

The dates that were given don't match up with the details. It is a 4 reale from Potosi with an assayer of R. With the Hapsburg shield, it would place it during the time of Phillip II or III. Looking up the assayer isn't as clear cut as Alonso Rincon was the first from 1574-1576. Baltasar Ramos Lacetaserved from 1603 - 1612. Both used the curved right leg of the R. If I had to guess between the two, I would choose Baltasar Ramos Laceta as his R's were much cruder.

Yes, Potosi (modern Bolivia), not Lima... quick answer - ca. 1590-1613. Just by looking at the coin overall, ignoring the assayer mark, this isn't the style of the Rincon pieces ca. 1575 - those earlier pieces were rounder, nicer strikes in general with fuller peripheral detail. This piece is instead somewhere within later assayer Ballesteros (B) or assayer Ramos Leceta (R or RL)... Note that Ramos Leceta actually had TWO separate stints... the 1st in the early-mid 1590s (the assayer mark then rendered as a straight-leg R or an RL monogram - essentially an R with a tiny foot to incorporate the L). After a final run of assayer B, Ramos Leceta returned for a 2nd period, alternatively given as 1603-12, 1602-13, 1605-13 (somewhere on either side of 1610). His assayer mark within this period was rendered a curved-leg R... which is what your piece appears to have. Would have hit the reference books to try to match the detailing more precisely, but long story short, it's Potosi, ca. 1590-1613, likely assayer R (curved-leg) ca. 1605-12. The value of any of those options is going to be about the same.

Note, btw, that all of these pieces were "undated" by design... i.e., a date was not part of the design until 1617.

Your piece has fairly good central detail on a decently-shaped planchet, no noticeable strike doubling, but does show some circulation wear and is rather flat as struck around the periphery. The coin itself sensibly falls within the $75-125 range, I'd say... As mounted, it depends on how much gold is in the bezel and how much a given person wants to pay to wear a coin around their neck (which really isn't a defined, rational market). Probably somewhere around $125 in gold in the bezel, assuming it's solid (not plated) 14K... maybe $275-350?? Again, that's "sensibly"... occasionally you'll see bidiots on eBay going higher on pieces like this. If you were ever to sell, I'd throw it up on there with a fairly high Buy It Now price w/the "Best Offer" option attached, and see what happens.