Need some educating here........

[PyrateJim]

I was hoping someone can help me with a cob in my "collection". After the
flood we had a year or so ago, I lost a lot of my records and am trying to reidentify
a lot of cobs (the 30 or so that werent stolen a couple of years before the flood)
and I am about ready to stick toothpicks in my eyes as a relief on this one. I want
to say that this cob is a Lima, 8 reales, assayer V. The reverse side seems to be
dated (16)63, yet on the obverse side there appears to be a "4" as in
(166)4, and again the "L" mintmark. With the Lima mint being closed from
1660 - 1684, how can this be? What am I missing?

Thanks,
Jim
(as I reach for my box of toothpicks)

[Mackaydon]

Regarding the "pillars" side. The "SVL" area now reads "SVLL" with a "T" stamped on the right pillar. Sedwick notes that a Lima 'pillars and waves' 8-reales was issued in 1684 with the assayer "V" , for Francisco Villegas.

[PyrateJim]

That is a definate sign of a double strike as it is seen in the entire middle line. I can agree with the "4" on the obverse being for (168)4 and that matches excatly with Sedwick's L6, but the reverse has a nice, clear, (at least to my eyes) "63" and that is what is throwing me. The Lima mint was closed from 1660 - 1684. I wonder if "V" grabbed some older cobs and restruck some when the mint first reopened since he was there when it closed in 1660 and reopened in 1684?

[PyrateJim]

Verdict is in. The doubling is playing games, but due to the destinct style, it is a Lima, 1684, assayer V cob.

Thanks again.

[cuzcosquirrel]

There is a double strike on the front- part of a pillar. That is a great coin. Interesting idea about the guy using a mis-marked reverse. A much bigger picture would be needed to tell that.

Some of these issues also have a three digit date on the back, so that six might be the first digit of it.