Somewhat thicker Cob found today. Any ideas on age?

[The Sanddigger]

I'm usually on the Today's finds forum but Bill D. thought I could get some feedback on this cob found today.





Thanks for looking!

 

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[Diver_Down]

1/2 reale from Mexico City minted during the reign of Philip V - 1st Period(1700-1724). Even though the Assayer isn't visible, one knows it is "J" (Jose Eustaquio de Leon). He had produced a unique design that is attributed to him. The mysterious "o" to the right of the "S" in the monogram is presumed to be a space-filler instead of an interpreted initial. He served at the Mexico City mint from 1705-1724.

 

[GrizLeeBear]

If I may ask, what is a cob? It looks like a cut up coin that I have seen referred to as "Bit".

 

[Phanntom]

Grizlee...they're Spanish coins that were much more crudely made than the later Reale. Many were cut as a way of "making change" depending on how much was cut depended on whether it was a "two-bit", "four-bit, "six-bits" piece. Here's a primer on them.... Spanish Colonial Cobs: Introduction

 

[Mackaydon]

Accepting what Diver Down wrote above, the date range can be further reduced since assayer "L" was on that series of coinage between 1701 and 1708. Thereafter, assayer "J" was the assayer through the end of the series (1724); again, as Diver Down noted.
Don....

 

[GrizLeeBear]

Grizlee...they're Spanish coins that were much more crudely made than the later Reale. Many were cut as a way of "making change" depending on how much was cut depended on whether it was a "two-bit", "four-bit, "six-bits" piece. Here's a primer on them.... Spanish Colonial Cobs: Introduction

Thank you. We always referred to them as "bits". I'd not heard 'cob' before. Very interesting. Thank you.