Authentic Private Collection Spanish cob - 1 Reales - Mexico mint
$3,200
Denomination: 1 Reales
Date: Circa 1556- 1598
Mint: Mexico City
Reign: Philip II
Mount: Sterling Silver with 14K prongs and bale
Grade: VF 30 (Very Fine) - ANACS
Assayer: Not Visible
Description: 1 Reales Spanish cob. Reign of Philip III. Obverse: Clearly struck florenzada cross with lions and castles visible in four quadrants. Legend partially visible. Reverse: Clearly struck Hapsburg Shield. Mint mark visible along with Kings ordinal across the top.
History: This coin is a certified member of the “Beachcomber Series” by Shipwreck Treasures of the Keys. It has been numismatically certified as authentic to its time period. Spanish colonial coinage ,known as cobs (from the Spanish Cabo de Barra, meaning :end of th bar") were the primary currency of the Spanish empire east territories in the America's from the earl 16th to the mid 18th century.
They were produced in colonial mints, such as those in Mexico City, Potosi (modern day Bolivia) and Lima, to quickly convert massive amounts of silver and gold into spendable currency for trade and shipwent back to Spain. The silver cob, famously known as pieces of eight became the first widely accepted global currency., circulating across Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Due ot issues with couterfeiting and clipping, cobs were gradually phased out in the 18th century in favor of more uniform, machine struck (milled) pins with a protective edge design.
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