Can someone validate and date this spanish cob?

[Southern_Digger]

I have not checked the books to verify and establish a mint source and date for this cob in my possession. I got it from a friend who dove for salvors on Florida's east coast. It appears to be a cut-down eight reale or a 4-reale. I had a gold mount custom made for the cob and I believe the jeweler went a bit overboard. The chain is a long 18kt modern chain I found while shallow water hunting along the coast. Now, the coin is a bit blackened with silver sulfide, although the camera does not reveal it. Should I clean coin with chemical electrolysis (foil, ect.) or just leave it alone.
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[hacksaw]

Wanna sell it?

 

[leprechaun]

Nice cob,I'd try a silver dipping solution,and silver cleaning cloth.Good luck.

 

[Diver_Down]

It was minted in Mexico (Shield side -oM mintmark; Cross side - balls on the end of the cross). And it has a partial date of xx14, making it a 1714. The date is from the time when Jose Eustaquio de Leon held office of assayer. The assayer mark would be J below the oM mintmark. It isn't visible from what I can tell. Nice piece.

Do not clean it. It looks beautiful as it is. If you want to improve it's appearance, then I would recommend scrapping the mount. At that time you can weigh it, and it will discern the denomination.

 

[Southern_Digger]

Wanna sell it?

Not for Sale.

 

[mad4wrecks]

DIVERDOWN, thank you for taking time to answer Southern_Digger. Very informative post. Your response is greatly appreciated, even if nobody else says so. keep up the good work. Tom

 

[Southern_Digger]

DIVERDOWN, thank you for taking time to answer Southern_Digger. Very informative post. Your response is greatly appreciated, even if nobody else says so. keep up the good work. Tom

Dang! Did I just get busted by the BB manners police?

Of course the above response was informative. But, then again, I already knew most of that and have it filed away with the cerificate of sale. I was just hoping to get a broader response and confirm what I already know. However, in courtesy, thank you Diver_Down for taking the time to respond and confirming the coin history--especially the assayer. That is Dynamite. But then again, if Diver_Down initials are G.Z., and I think they are... then I thanked him back when I bought the coin from him. Hope you all have a great salvage season with many days of cooperating weather and seas.

 

[BeachComber7]

Beautiful coin and mount Southern. Diverdown gave you the good info, and to compare coin to others i would try the
Mel Fisher web site or the Daniel Sedwick web site.

 

[Cubfan64]

Personally I think cleaning it in any manner would be a travesty - it looks authentically worn with a beautiful old patina. If you cleaned it to be silver and shiny it would lose all it's character imho.

 

[Mackaydon]

The fineness is .931. If the coin weighs over 13.54 grams, it's an 8 reales; at 13.54 g. or slightly under, it's a 4 reales. I agree with your 'overboard' comment on the mount; the four mount points attrack my attention away from the coin.
Don.......

 

[Diver_Down]

Sorry, Southern. My initials aren't G.Z. My name is Ken. M4W (Tom), we share a mutual acquaintance - Apolla.

 

[Mole Man]

Very cool what you did with the coin.

 

[Southern_Digger]

Sorry, Southern. My initials aren't G.Z. My name is Ken. M4W (Tom), we share a mutual acquaintance - Apolla.

Sorry about not reponding immediately. Have been working and away from my computer. Last three days for example--slept 4 1/2 hrs in day then worked 8 hr. night shift. Next day, slept only three hours and puttered around house doing chores-worked another 8 hr. night shift. Then yesterday slept only 3 1/2 hrs. and met with a/c repairman twice at my daughters; then worked 8hr night shift last night. Diver_down--now there are two coincidences. I bought this cob from GZ who lives or did live in St. Augustine. The other coincidence--my name may also may be Ken... I kind of thought you were him. For those of you who ask, I will not clean the coin. Thank You for all your help and opinions.