First Spanish Cob!

[Hunthicks]

Today I decided that I'd take a walk back through the woods to a foundation I'd found last year, near where I'd found my first trade axe. When I was there last year, a few square nails was all I'd found but I knew the area was old from the trade axe, and the fact it's over 2.5 KM from the nearest parking spot, let alone any current buildings.
After digging a couple square nails, I got a solid, deep sounding signal and this coin popped up from 8 - 10 inches below the roots. I saw it was a cob nearly right away, but it appears to be pure silver over a purplish silver alloy, which is strange. I have no doubt it's period due to the area, but is this normal or a contemporary counterfeit?



Targets were very sparse, but the extremely dry ground surely didn't help. I did manage this cool old pot and a huge pick, that seems to have some markings on it(a circle and a banner shaped mark). I'm thinking a return in the spring when the ground is nice and wet will be worth it!

 

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[Hunthicks]

Looks real. An old counterfeit would most not likely come out like that.

You had a great result so better you didn't have lemon juice, and I'm not sure it would have been very effective anyway... plus when it is it often takes the color away and that coin looks way better still having the dark areas. I see no reason at all now to think it's counterfeit.

Patriot -1

Now THAT'S a keeper...good decision on a light cleaning...looks 100% better!

I like the colour a lot better than that purple, that's for sure! Glad it's real, but now wishing I had a date as it could be my oldest coin. I have a feeling Patriot will wanna hit this site with me for sure, so hopefully more goodies on the way!

 

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[jewelerguy]

been reading all the follow up posts about the cob being real or not and it struck me that it is real but suffered slight fire damage.

 

[Greylock]

Great job on that coin. Looks much better now

 

[Hunthicks]

been reading all the follow up posts about the cob being real or not and it struck me that it is real but suffered slight fire damage.

I'm thinking fire damage and acidic soil probably played a role in the appearance, as Patriot said there was a lot of places being burnt in that area in that time period.

 

[Iron Patch]

I like the colour a lot better than that purple, that's for sure! Glad it's real, but now wishing I had a date as it could be my oldest coin. I have a feeling Patriot will wanna hit this site with me for sure, so hopefully more goodies on the way!

Do you have to beat a 1600s date?

 

[Hunthicks]

Do you have to beat a 1600s date?

1723 is my oldest confirmed date, I was figuring this was likely 1600s but I'm not a cob expert....yet

 

[Iron Patch]

1723 is my oldest confirmed date, I was figuring this was likely 1600 but I'm not a cob expert....yet

I think that one dates 1855.

 

[Iron Patch]

Neither am I (a cob expert), but I think it's fairly safe to say it's 1600s. It is different than my early 1700s ones.

 

[Hunthicks]

Neither am I (a cob expert), but I think it's fairly safe to say it's 1600s. It is different than my early 1700s ones.

Good enough for me, at least until I get a confirmed 1600s date. It's my first Spanish since I was at your place last, so it's been a while!!

 

[ironhorse]

Nice to see that one cleaned up pretty good, hope there's more at your site to put a little polish on!

 

[Iron Patch]

Nice to see that one cleaned up pretty good, hope there's more at your site to put a little polish on!

Polish silver? I think they're better known for something else.

 

[Mach1Pilot]

Great looking cob! And happy for you it turned out to not be counterfeit.

 

[CRUSADER]

Well, I couldn't resist giving a little cleaning, after all the coin was pretty rough as it was. I used the salt and tinfoil method Romeo suggested for just a few minutes as it worked for me before and I didn't have any lemon juice on hand. It does look like there is actually pitting not peeling, as you can see the silver along the edge connects up to the surface layer. But I'm no expert!
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Shame, in a way, I thought it was the first Cob Cft, now its just a flakey cob, still a coin I need, but I hope my soil is a little kinder. I think the minter debased the silver a little.

 

[The Patriot]

I think that coin turned out as best as you can get it without ruining the look of it....yes no date but that is an old site and slightly out of the way from the other early village from the 17th century that is located in that area...I think it would be safe to date it that village + or - of course....After looking at new pics I would have to agree with Crusader that the minter debased the silver a little...
That is a well deserved find with all the walking that you did to get to it...

 

[The Patriot]

I plan on joining the Cob Club no later than the fall...

Looks real. An old counterfeit would most not likely come out like that.

You had a great result so better you didn't have lemon juice, and I'm not sure it would have been very effective anyway... plus when it is it often takes the color away and that coin looks way better still having the dark areas. I see no reason at all now to think it's counterfeit.

Patriot -1

 

[Mackaydon]

Some history:
In December of 1649, the mayor of Potosi and the assayer at that mint, Ramirez Arellano, were put to death by hanging as a result of their involvement with debasing the king's silver coinage. Eventually, 42 people involved with the Potosi debasement were either hung, beheaded, imprisoned or banished into exile. The king has made his point: If you debase the coinage, these were the alternative consequences.
I don't believe there were further cases of debasement at any Spanish New World mints after that.
With that in mind, I believe this coin is authentic and of full silver purity if minted after 1650.
Don...