Anyone recognize this coin?

[treasurehuntr2]

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

 

[divewrecks]

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.......

It would be nice to pick up one book and become well educated. It takes many books, auction catalogs, and of course study to achieve even a rudimentary knowledge of cob coins. Other books I recommend are "Cobs, Pieces of Eight, and Treasure Coins" by Sewall Menzel, Dr, Craig's two books on the Florida Collection, and Ernie Richards' books on shipwreck coins and his PLVS VLTRA newsletter. Everyone is of course welcome to come discuss and debate these unique coin types with us in the TNet "Spanish Cobs" forum.

Stan

 

[divewrecks]

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

Ten tears of die punching can make a castle look like a shoe box.....Seriously, comparing minute design elements over a coin spread of ten years won't tell you much.

Stan

 

[divewrecks]

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 only Potosi coins that were "rolled" were probably the presentation pieces. By the late 1600's crudely cut lumps usually just got a rough beating to approximate thickness and size before being struck. Because of a charcoal shortage at the high altitudes it became necessary to do less and less in the way of forming operations. Due to the fact that annealing was problematic, coins became even more chunky in the 1700's, since working to hammer the coins thinner was difficult. At the time, die splits became more common as the ability to anneal the material during forming and striking was becoming less available.

Stan

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

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

Ten tears of die punching can make a castle look like a shoe box.....Seriously, comparing minute design elements over a coin spread of ten years won't tell you much.

Stan

A 99 Potosi 2 Reale might be hard to find. What I usually do is compare the 2 lions to the 2 castles (on the same cob) to see if they are the same. As far as I know they should be the same. But all in all with my limited knowlege I will say again that I think its real. The bent cross doesnt bother me but I just cant visualize the top lion and top castle. What do you think has happened to the top lion and castle? The bottom lion looks so good.
I respect your opinion. Can you say if its real or a counterfeit? I notice you didnt say.

It would be nice to pick up one book and become well educated. It takes many books, auction catalogs, and of course study to achieve even a rudimentary knowledge of cob coins.

I agree. The more I learn, the more I realize I dont know. It seems the only sure way of knowing if a cob is a fake, from a picture, is to find a match because no 2 are alike.

 

[divewrecks]

A 99 Potosi 2 Reale might be hard to find. What I usually do is compare the 2 lions to the 2 castles (on the same cob) to see if they are the same. As far as I know they should be the same.

The dies are created using a variety of punches. Complex individual design elements like the castles and lions are transferred to the dies (prior to heat treat) from a master punch. This was discussed briefly in this cob forum thread:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=245522

In all likelihood the lion and castles figures should be the same or very close in any particular year, but the punches used to make the dies eventually wore (leaving a different imprint in the die), were touched up, or replaced entirely (possibly with a slightly different design).

Because of this I am open to the possibility of some pretty significant variations even in a given year if all else checks out.

But all in all with my limited knowledge I will say again that I think its real.

I agree, even if underweight.

Stan

 

[colorado14ers]

I think it is a real coin cuz coins tend to take a long time to wear down and some parts of the coin have some wear. i dont think the can make repro that are worn down like that.