Spanish Cobs

[ipsilateral]

I bought this item at a thrift store today knowing it may not be real. But, I'll post it in the hopes that my wager was worthwhile. This is a brooch that appears to have been made from Spanish cobs. Two coins appear to be milled pillar type coins and are dated 1736 and possibly 1738. One of these bears the letters "ISPAN". The other two coins have crosses on one side and shields on the obverse. One of these has a date which reads 1762. Overall, these cobs are in pretty rough shape. Holes drilled in three of them, all seem to have been clipped, pretty worn.. So, the usual questions...

1. Are they real (AKA have I found my first Spanish treasure)?
2. What coins are they?
3. What if any value do they have?

I would love to hear the opinions of the experts here.

 

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[Mackaydon]

They appear to be authentic.
The third coin is a 2 reales piece.
If real, all are of about 90+% silver.
I'll add more later in the event others don't jump in.
Don......

 

[ipsilateral]

Thanks! I would love to have more info if others don't write back.

 

[Mackaydon]

That third one looks like Potosi mint and with (if) a "Y" to the left of the date would signify the assayer as being Raimundo de Yurriaga (1760-1770). The coin should be almost 92% silver. That coin would weigh no more than about 6.7 grams. The smaller coins may be 1 reale coins weighing 1/2 that of the two reales.

Clipping would be natural; the mints way of reducing the weight of the coin down to the required weight. Of course, coins were also clipped away from the mint; the clippings being saved and later redeemed based on their weight.

You may wish to click onto the Sedwick banner at the top of this page for more info on these 'cob' coins.
Don.......

 

[ipsilateral]

Wow. You certainly know your stuff. Any ballpark for value on a weird item like this, given that it's been drilled and welded up? Thanks again!

 

[Mackaydon]

Sedwick (as previously referenced) hosts periodic auctions of similar coins.
Once on his site, you should have no difficulty in navigating to his auctions and prices.

 

[divewrecks]

I would say that would probably sell for $75 - $100 on Ebay, so you did good for a $20 investment....

Stan

 

[dagfoto]

most of these are made from real (pun) reales...

found in the markets in central america