I believe I found a cob!

[Patrol]

I found this yesterday on a Northeast Florida Beach on the Atlantic Ocean and would appreciate any information you could provide. It weighs 3 Grams and is approximately 1.9 mm thick and is 16 x 13.7 mm in size. Can anyone tell me anything about it?

It is corroded and appears to be silver. I lightly brushed some corrosion off to see what it is, but, I would like to know how to clean it properly so that I don't diminish it's value.

I realize the pictures are rough but I don't want to clean it further.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Tom

 

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[Diver_Down]

First picture is suspect with dots in lieu of the castles/lions. It could also be corrosion/concretion that is masking the details. You'll need to clean it to ascertain whether it is real or not. If it is legitimate then cooking it won't harm it. A low amperage electrolysis treatment will break up the concretion.

 

[stevemc]

You could use muratic acid to clean it. You can get that at a pool store. Put some very carefully in a plastic container, like a deli pint sized container or sour cream container type thing. Put in about 1/2" of water first, then very carefully pour in another 1/2" of acid, always add acid to the water, so it doesnt splash. Let it sit for 1/2 an hour or until it slows fizzing, and with a plastic fork, flip it for another 15 minutes to a 1/2 hour. Wear eye protection and do this where it wont make a permanant mess. Wear old clothes just in case. Rinse well, and let sit in fresh water for a while. This should clean it up. Electrolysis can and does make the silver pitted. Acid has no effect on silver or copper, just dont put them together in acid. If the acid does eat it, it was a cheap fake, but it is hard to tell from the pics.

 

[Patrol]

Thanks for the information. I used my metal detector to find the cob in question. It was a fairly remote beach and I dug this piece from a depth of about eight inches. I see what you mean about the dots vs castles. I would hate to think that someone was so mean as to burying fake cobs to get an old man excited. That's elder abuse. I would consider this my best find ever, if it is real.

Tom

 

[stevemc]

If it is real, could be, it is a 1/2 or 1 Reale. Hard to tell much else. South American mint or European, not Mexican mint. But hard to tell much else.

 

[Patrol]

Went by my local jeweler with experience with cobs. Without prompting, she put on a lupe and immediately said she saw the cross, the lions, the castles and the shield on the reverse. She also looked at the edge and she could see the silver. She is not an expert, but, it makes me feel a lot better about the coin's authenticity. I will take it very slow to get it cleaned up to be able to date it and get a mint.

 

[Southern_Digger]

Looks like the real deal...but those stipples around the cross puzzle me. Let us know what you determine it to be. Good Luck.

 

[Patrol]

Upon further inspection, I believe it is fake. I have cleaned it up and the detail had not improved, I do not see any indication of castles or lions.

I will show it at our metal detecting club meeting and see what the old hands have to say.

Tom

 

[graffixgirl]

sure hope its the real deal, that would be awesome. still waiting to find my first one. but found other good stuff in leiu of a cob *W*

 

[aquanut]

I read somewhere that dots were used in lieu of numbers in some instance but I can't remember the details. It could be rare.
Aquanut

 

[hamiddetecting]

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[knightsquad]

It's real!
Stop worrying about it.
Clean her up some more!
You'll see !
Nice find! Jealous! Haha

Pete