Diferent numbers on cob denomination

[Nutriasub]

Can somebody explain to me why on some cobs the number (8 or 4 reales) sometimes is on roman numbers VIII or IIII and sometimes is on regular numbers. The cobs seem to be from the same time period, same king

 

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[realeswatcher]

That's a good question... never have really dug into that. I just chalk it up to personal preference on the assayers' part... and I'm sure ability to fit a digit vs. a Roman numeral (or even construct one out of available punches) played a role at times.

You mention that one will find both ways (Arabic numeral and Roman numeral) on the coinage of the same period... That's true if lumping ALL Spanish reales coinage together from ALL mints... Most often, however, you will find that WITHIN each mint's production, there is something of a regular traceable timeline concerning which style they used. An neat and easy example is Potosi mint, which (with a few exceptions observed) permanently switched from "IIII" and "VIII" to "4" and "8" right around 1629.

 

[HISPAN]

The restamps belong to called renaissance period ... in these centuries are still used by Roman numerals .. then with the Modern period became fashionable the Arabic numerals ... but were used interchangeably .. like now ... here in my area starting in 1700 all restamps Arabic numerals and none Roman numerals.

 

[NJnuggetpirate]

is spain the best place to find cobs since that where most originated from

 

[Treasurecoast1715]

is spain the best place to find cobs since that where most originated from

Actually many were minted in the America's and then sent back. Kinda new to researching on them, just got a good book on them. But the wreck sites here in the US were cobs made in the Americas being sent back to Spain. Some of the jewelry is made from Inca Gold, columbian emeralds etc.

 

[NJnuggetpirate]

Actually many were minted in the America's and then sent back. Kinda new to researching on them, just got a good book on them. But the wreck sites here in the US were cobs made in the Americas being sent back to Spain. Some of the jewelry is made from Inca Gold, columbian emeralds etc.

We bro where did you get your information why book

 

[Treasurecoast1715]

We bro where did you get your information why book

The book is "Shipwrecks and their coins: Volume 3-The 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet".

Coins were minted in Mexico, Lima, and Potosi. Haven't finished the book, got a lot of other stuff going on, but just glancing through it shows some really cool aspects of different marking based on where they were minted and when. Way more interesting than our modern coins IMHO!