✅ SOLVED Pillar and Waves Spanish Cob?

[perdidogringo]

Pillar and Waves Spanish Cob? (SOLVED!)

Hi all, A friend of mine found this Spanish cob down south. Can any of you cob experts offer any info. on the date, mint, information, etc.? Thanks in advance!

 

[Mackaydon]

What is the coin's diameter in mm?'
My guess is a Carlos and Joana 1 or 2 reales.
Don....

 

[perdidogringo]

Thanks for the response! It measures about 32 mm. Here is some additional info: On the pillar side there are 2 pillars, a "4" (does this mean 4 reales?) in the middle with waves under it (see addition photo below). Thank- you!

 

[deepsecrets]

What is the coin's diameter in mm?'
My guess is a Carlos and Joana 1 or 2 reales.
Don....

Agree with Don - 4 reales based on later info, Charles-Joanna, "Late Series," circa 1519-1556

 

[cw0909]

im not a cob expert, at link is some info, i think Don has it, i just cant see it well enough
to determine if it is a 1 or 2.if you look into the history of that coin, you will see not a lot
made it to land here, most where shipped back to spain and prob melted and remade for
the next rein, and lost at sea,if found at a beach or inlet,could be from a shipwreck
very nice find

Pre Cob - Charles and Johanna Silver: Introduction

 

[cw0909]

just noticed your from Bogota, Colombia, you may need to research some more
the coin was minted in mexico in 1536-1572. i dont know when spain moved
around Colombia

 

[cw0909]

my bad, guess the viceroy's could have lost a coin or 2

History of Colombia, Colonial Society, 1550-1810
History of Colombia, The Spanish Conquest

 

[Mackaydon]

The 'first series' (no waves) ran from 1536-1541; the second series-- waves below the columns--as is yours) from 1542-1555.
Yes, the "4" between the columns signifies the denomination: 4 reales. Your diameter of 32 mm also puts in the the 4R range.
There are at least 14 varieties of this coin; I'll keep looking at yours; especially if you choose to (carefully) clean it further.
Don......

 

[sutphin]

FINE LOOKING REALES .

 

[perdidogringo]

Thanks for all of your replies! Really appreciate it. The site where the cob was found is still being explored so I'm hoping that more coins and relics appear.

Quick question for Don- Between the crowns of the 2 pillars there is a "P"- does that stand for the Assayer or the mint? Because if it's the mint, it would be the Lima mint, correct?

 

[Mackaydon]

Waves curve downward between the pillars on a Lima pillars and waves coin, upwards on Mexican (and Potosi, I believe).
PS: The 14 varieties I referred to above relate to Mexican 4R coins; and these variations are only in the placement of the mint mark, the mint mark itself (but always Mexico City) and the various assayers' initial (G, A, R,S, L and O, for example).
Don.....

 

[perdidogringo]

Thanks again, Don. So the feedback I've been receiving from here and another site is that the cob is either from the Mexican mint cerca 1542-1555 (P standing for the Assayer, Pedro de Espina) or from the Lima mint 1568-1570, P standing for the Lima mint in which the Assayer would have to be Alonso de Rincon. I found this page very useful in lining up mint years and Assayers: Spanish Coin Assayer - Mel Fisher's Treasures

I've attached a photo someone sent me of a very similar, if not, exactly the same kind of the cob my friend found:

 

[perdidogringo]

Solved!

Ok, I think we have a positive ID given a better photo I just received of the cob (see attached photo). There is clearly an "R" to the left of the shield side, in this better photo. That would seem to settle the issue- The cob was made at the Lima mint 1568-1570, "P" standing for the Lima, Peru mint. and the 'R" for the Assayer, Alonso de Rincon. Many thanks to Don and others who chimed in. What a great forum this is for our hobby!