What are the earliest New World cobs?

OldSowBreath · Feb 5, 2012

For some, reason, I can't find it by google, and was wondering from the real pros on here - What date is the earliest New World Cob, and from which mint or mine? Links to pictures? And have they been found on both land and shipwrecks? Thanks guys!

Mackaydon · Feb 5, 2012

The Mexico City mint was authorized by a royal decree of May 11, 1535. Probably by the middle of 1536 the MC mint commenced striking silver coins in denominations of 1/4, 1/2, 1,2 and (yes) 3 reales. The 4-reales was not authorized until 1537 when the 3 reales was discontinued.

These first New World coins are called "Carlos and Juana, early series" (1536-1541). The assayer, Francisco del Rincon was shown with an "R".

The first dies were made from punches brought from Spain. The original letters were in Gothic.
Don........

cuzcosquirrel · Feb 6, 2012

There was a pre-offical minting 8 reals for sale at the Long Beach auction. I looked at it about two weeks ago on the site. It looks kind of like a 4 reals Carlos and Joanna strike, but has eight pellets split into groups of 4 vertically on both sides of the middle part of the obverse (front.) I think they had it dated at around 1534 or 1535. It didn't look that bad.

They have it listed as an offical coin on this site, 3rd coin down.

http://www.coinlink.com/News/world-...-from-goldbergs-upcoming-pre-long-beach-sale/

Mackaydon · Feb 6, 2012

OSB,
Actually, what I gave you was the date of the first coin in the New World IMO--but it wasn't a cob.
I believe cobs were coined from about 1556 until during the second reign of Felipe V, in 1733. Again, Mexico City was the first mint location of both the earliest and the later cob coins.
Don........

Mackaydon · Feb 6, 2012

Cuzco,
The site you referenced has the coin dated "c. 1535-1536". I take no issue with that.

Interesting, is that the same article mentions "Carlos and Joanna, or Johanna, issued the first coins FROM EUROPE (my emphasis) for the New World."
Don.....

Diver_Down · Feb 6, 2012

Mackaydon said:
OSB,
Actually, what I gave you was the date of the first coin in the New World IMO--but it wasn't a cob.
I believe cobs were coined from about 1556 until during the second reign of Felipe V, in 1733. Again, Mexico City was the first mint location of both the earliest and the later cob coins.
Don........

Don, Mexico City was the mint location for the earliest, but Potosi holds the title of producing cobs well after milled dollars were introduced at other mints including Potosi itself. 1773 is the last of the cob production.

Cuzcosquirrel - Very interesting. There is also a distinct type that was minted in Seville that was only used in the New World. I believe there is a wreck in the Dominican Republic where some of these types have been sourced.

Mackaydon · Feb 6, 2012

This article should add further clarity to the coin referenced above:
http://coins.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=397&lotNo=14177

BARKER · Feb 6, 2012

Hi; According to the R.S. Yeoman Red Book the first coins used in the New World were called Hoagies and were of BRITISH Origin, They were 1616. They were made of brass or copper and lightly silvered in 4 denominations. The 2 Pence, 3 Pence, 6 Pence and Farthing. Each was struck with a Roman Numeral for it's value. These coins were called HOAGIES or HOAGES. They were struck in the Bermuda Island named Sommers Island Named after Sir George Sommers wo was ship wrecked there in 1609.
Anyway I hope this helps. PEACE:RONB

Diver_Down · Feb 6, 2012

BARKER said:
Hi; According to the R.S. Yeoman Red Book the first coins used in the New World were called Hoagies and were of BRITISH Origin, They were 1616. They were made of brass or copper and lightly silvered in 4 denominations. The 2 Pence, 3 Pence, 6 Pence and Farthing. Each was struck with a Roman Numeral for it's value. These coins were called HOAGIES or HOAGES. They were struck in the Bermuda Island named Sommers Island Named after Sir George Sommers wo was ship wrecked there in 1609.
Anyway I hope this helps. PEACE:RONB

1616? Jeez, St. Augustine was undergoing urban renewal at that time.

Mackaydon · Feb 6, 2012

Barker,
I believe a closer reading of Yeoman will disclose that in the area of "An Introduction to United States Coins", he states "Only a very few coins were made in America prior to 1783." He then goes on to chat about Hogge Money. But note he is writing about "America", not Mexico.
Don.....