Spanish Cob ID

[298]

Was wondering if anyone out there could help give me some info on this cob I found. I’ve looked but with no luck on identifying it or getting a date range. many thanks in advance!!

 

[Mackaydon]

My WAG: 1 Real (cut in half), Mexico City mint, Assayer 'R' (Francisco del Rincon) 1543?-1544.
Don.......

 

[298]

My WAG: 1 Real (cut in half), Mexico City mint, Assayer 'R' (Francisco del Rincon) 1543?-1544.
Don.......

Thank you for the information !! A very welcomed report! Thanks again!

 

[unclemac]

i love cut coins, they really illustrate the economic situation of the common man as North America grew as the "New World"

 

[CRUSADER]

My WAG: 1 Real (cut in half), Mexico City mint, Assayer 'R' (Francisco del Rincon) 1543?-1544.
Don.......

This is just an observation open for discussion.
Although a 1 Real cut into equal halves to make a half Real is most likely. I'm not sure that it was a perfect half. I would welcome an exact weight in 0.00g ? I know these are always very irregular shaped & the weights vary somewhat, but to me it looks like 3/5th's of a coin. If so quite interesting, as it would open debate why you would need 2/5th's in change. Suggests an interesting transaction, or unequal rip off.

 

[Mackaydon]

it's like pulling apart a turkey drumstick; someone always gets the short end of the stick--no matter how many times drumsticks are pulled apart. In this case, it may be fractions of a gram, but the intent is to cut the coin in half, not 60/40.
Don.......

 

[CRUSADER]

it's like pulling apart a turkey drumstick; someone always gets the short end of the stick--no matter how many times drumsticks are pulled apart. In this case, it may be fractions of a gram, but the intent is to cut the coin in half, not 60/40.
Don.......

Understand that.
I think a weight is useful to continue this discussion, if it's close to half, end of story.
I don't have a great understanding of how the monetary system worked in the early days of the US, but if anything like Britain, weight of silver was the most important thing (along with a known purity). Hence the need for coin weights (although mostly for gold coins). I'm just wondering if there is more to this or not?

 

[Mackaydon]

The standard weight is 3.40 grams, the typical diameter is 23mm for a oM-O assayer 1R coin. The fineness is .930554.
Granted, it appears the owner of this coin got the larger part of the drumstick.
Don......

 

[unclemac]

Understand that.
I think a weight is useful to continue this discussion, if it's close to half, end of story.
I don't have a great understanding of how the monetary system worked in the early days of the US, but if anything like Britain, weight of silver was the most important thing (along with a known purity). Hence the need for coin weights (although mostly for gold coins). I'm just wondering if there is more to this or not?

imagine....13 plus colonies (don't forget what would become Canada and the Island colonies of the Caribbean etc.)... and every one of them in a separate relationship with the crown, each one with their own idea of coinage, rating, value... and each one determined to call their own shots. It is a wonder they ever worked together toward a common goal and the 50 states today still take their individual sovereignty very seriously. As far as money is concerned... long story short, Spanish (Mexican coinage) was a life saver and was legal tender in the US until 1857.