Anyone recognize this coin?

treasurehuntr2 · Jun 25, 2010

Howdy fellow treasure hunters. Just found this in a box of old stuff gathered up at a place being demolished

Anyone have any idea what it is? Thanks.Th2

BuckleBoy · Jun 25, 2010

It looks like a 1699 Spanish cob...but I don't know whether it is genuine or not... (I'm leaning towards repro.) Even if it is made of silver, it may not be genuine... There are folks on here that know much more than me about cobs though, so stay tuned. A faster answer to your question may happen if you post this in the Cobs section of the forum.

Best Wishes,

Buckles

Iron Patch · Jun 26, 2010

If it's a fake I'm fooled! I think the detail being nice and so well centered is what is giving the apearance of it being a reproduction.... not to mention the circumstaces attached. Almost every cob I've seen posted on this site I knew in a second whether it was real or not... but this one had me looking for a minute... and I still wouldn't make any big bets on it. I'm going with it being real, because if it's fake, it's getting scary how good they're getting.... so I want to believe it's real. (plus I can't find a good reason to call it fake)

ivan salis · Jun 26, 2010

pillars and waves type --(holed) spanish 1 reale (see the 1 in the top row middle) - cob coin---its dated 99 * bottom middle (1699--potosi mint)-- since they made pillar and waves at the potosi mint from 1652 to to 1773 and the only 99 year in that time frame is 1699--it would have to be 1699*

Mackaydon · Jun 26, 2010

I like it.
Assayer "F" (lower left letter on 'tic-tac-toe') was the assayer at Potosi between 1697 and 1701.
Don....

ivan salis · Jun 26, 2010

looks legit to me -- :icon_thumright:

Silver Searcher · Jun 26, 2010

Great find

the hole looks like it was made with the point of a dagger :P you can see were it's gon in the coin and then worked around, to make the hole...nice, can't see why anyone would hole a repro :icon_scratch:

then again......

SS

treasurehuntr2 · Jun 26, 2010

treasurehuntr2 said:
Howdy fellow treasure hunters. Just found this in a box of old stuff gathered up at a place being demolished Anyone have any idea what it is? Thanks.Th2

Thanks to all for your input regarding this coin. I can pretty much assure you that it is a legit coin. I do not know much about cobs ,but have been reading a little bit since reading this thread. I was wondering how I find out more about this particular one. Also does anyone know it's value? It may look ok for 300 years old but to me it seems fairly worn down, and lastly... what is a reale

Thanks again in advance!

treasurehuntr2 · Jun 26, 2010

treasurehuntr2 said:
Howdy fellow treasure hunters. Just found this in a box of old stuff gathered up at a place being demolished Anyone have any idea what it is? Thanks.Th2

Oh... and also... why would one have put a hole in the coin back then

treasurehuntr2 · Jun 26, 2010

Silver Searcher said:
Great find the hole looks like it was made with the point of a dagger :P you can see were it's gon in the coin and then worked around, to make the hole...nice, can't see why anyone would hole a repro then again......

SS

/

treasurehuntr2 · Jun 26, 2010

ivan salis said:
looks legit to me --

/

Iron Patch · Jun 26, 2010

treasurehuntr2 said:
treasurehuntr2 said:

Howdy fellow treasure hunters. Just found this in a box of old stuff gathered up at a place being demolished Anyone have any idea what it is? Thanks.Th2

Click to expand...

Thanks to all for your input regarding this coin. I can pretty much assure you that it is a legit coin. I do not know much about cobs ,but have been reading a little bit since reading this thread. I was wondering how I find out more about this particular one. Also does anyone know it's value? It may look ok for 300 years old but to me it seems fairly worn down, and lastly... what is a reale Thanks again in advance!

There on ton on the internet about what real/reales are. The majority in lower grades don't have value as will be the case for yours. Maybe $25 (because it's holed)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_real

Mackaydon · Jun 26, 2010

TH-2:
Look at the top line of the opening page on Treasure Net, click on Sedwick Treasure Coins banner, then click on Practical Book of Cobs icon. Order and read the book, you'll be well educated in cob coins by the time you finish.
Don.......

Bigcypresshunter · Jun 26, 2010

treasurehuntr2 said:
Oh... and also... why would one have put a hole in the coin back then

To string them up to keep from losing them because they didnt have pockets.

The more I learn about cobs, the more I realize what I DONT know lol. As was said its a "pillars and waves" type cob. If its real its a beautiful piece. :dontknow:

The cobs forum will be of more help perhaps.

spanish cob pillars waves 1688 potosi.webp

Bigcypresshunter · Jun 26, 2010

It looks as if someone clipped some silver from it, which is not unusual. These hastily made colonial cobs from the Potosi mines went more by weight than size.

8 Spanish Reales = a dollar.

4 Reales = half dollar

2 reales = a quarter or "2 bits".

1 Reale was equal to about a dime.

Spanish Coin Denominations:

from http://metaldetectingworld.com/coins_silver_reales.shtml

1/2 REAL or One-Half "Bit" is equivalent to American HALF-DIME or 1/16 PESO also called a PICAYUNE, DIAMETER: 16.4 mm - 17,7 mm

1 REAL or One "Bit" is equivalent to American DIME or 1/8 PESO, DIAMETER: 20.3 mm - 21.6 mm

2 REALES or Two "Bits" are equivalent to American QUARTER or 1/4 PESO, DIAMETER: 26.2 mm - 28.1 mm

4 REALES or Four "Bits" are equivalent to American HALF-DOLLAR or 1/2 PESO, DIAMETER: 34.9 mm

8 REALES - a Piece of 8, or Eight "Bits"(a "Cob"), coin is equivalent to American 1 DOLLAR or 1 PESO, DIAMETER: 38.8 mm - 39.9 mm

On Spanish Reales denominations are abbreviated "R" (on both 1/2 Real and 1 Real coins), "2 R", "4 R", and "8 R" respectively.

16 REALES = 1 ESCUDO

Bigcypresshunter · Jun 26, 2010

Heres a 1689 Potosi 2 reale cob with the same Fleur de Lis looking pillars and funky castles.

With my limited experience, I say its authentic. Nice find!

haybudden2 · Jun 27, 2010

A little side note:
The hole in the coin has been punched
as opposed to being drilled.
A punched hole would be more likely
done in an older coin.

Hay2

Mackaydon · Jun 27, 2010

I have no problem with the style of the pillars or the castles. This type of coin can have a great variance in the 'mm' size of diameter since the coin was created by being rolled from a bar (like a cookie dough rolled bar) then cut by hand. The three severe indentations could have been made for the purpose of 'clipping' or testing. Weight is a key factor with cobs. The standard weight for a 'piece of eight' (8R) during this period was 27.468 grams. Your (1R) coin should therefore weigh 3.43 grams less a small amount for the three V-shaped cut outs and the hole.
Don....

haybudden2 · Jun 27, 2010

If we are discussing weight down to
a thousandth of a gram....A punched
hole doesn't remove any material when
punched the way this coin was holed.

Someone ask why the hole, coins were
holed so they could be sewn into the inside
of clothing for safe keeping.

Bigcypresshunter · Jun 27, 2010

Mackaydon said:
I have no problem with the style of the pillars or the castles.

Here are the lions and castles side by side with a 1689 Potosi from Sedwicks. Its very hard to compare a worn cob. . Do I have these oriented correctly?

At first glance the castles were not right but I guess it just wears funny. The lion looks great.