First Cob

[MagnumMD]

Hey Guys,

Found my first silver cob in VA last week, any help determining age is appreciated. It is a shield type and a P and R are clear on the coin, but I do not have enough experience with these cobs to know if those are assayer initials or mint marks, or both. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

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[Mackaydon]

May be Potosi Peru (now Bolivia) mint, cob, Philip III, Assayer R.
Denomination can be closely determined by weight using 27.468 grams as a reference for an 8R coin; proportionally less for a 4R, 2R, and 1R.
Don......

 

[MagnumMD]

Thank you for the additional clues! How do you know it was minted under Phillip III?

Thanks again.

 

[smokeythecat]

Gorgeous. I've only found 1 cob in 30+ years.

 

[Mackaydon]

MagnumMD,
The design of the shield and the initial of the assayer are consistent with coins minted during P III's reign.
Don....

 

[Blak bart]

Gorgeous find, details look nice and bold. Welcome to the cob club, that one is a beauty. Great work finding that one.

 

[MagnumMD]

Awesome, thanks again!

 

[Trez]

Wow,
She is a beauty !!! Fantastic find...
It is Potosi and looks like to me P over full ToverR, that would tell you 1643-1648 Pedro Trevino and according to Sedwick's Practical Book of Cobs.
Magnum, your now hooked, get Sedwick's Book, it is a must have if you find more. The Practical Book of Cobs.
Many Congrats on such a splendid find, Excellent. By the way the man who minted your cob was put to death for his shabby workmanship. NICE !!!!
Realeswatcher could tell us more...but I see small dots separating the mint and assayer as well as below the denomination to the right of the shield, these are clues to further narrow the date. More clue's to use are the lions and Castles on the reverse of the coin, they are not "furry" full lions. The Castles are a bit different also. Looking into a few more books, this could be earlier...maybe even 30s. What's the weight?
Cobs are fascinating...again Congrats.
Trez

 

[MagnumMD]

Thanks for the info, I will check that book out!

 

[Sandman]

These are the only Cobs I know about. Only decoy I ever found I couldn't give it away. not this one.