Rimac River Spanish Cob - 1/2 Reales - Sterling Silver Mount
$485
Denomination: ½ Reales
Date: 1685
Mint: Lima, Peru
Reign: Carlos II
Assayer: Not Visible
Mount: Sterling Silver
Description: ½ Reales River find coin. Obverse: Visible Jerusalem cross side with lions and castles in partially visible in all quadrants. Reverse: Monogram of King Carlos II
History: The coins of the Rimac River are authentic colonial Spanish silver coins - mostly small 1/2 Reales "Cobs"; that were tossed into the river in Lima, Peru, over the course of several centuries as offerings for good luck, love, and safe passage. The Rimac River's name comes from a native word meaning "to talk," leading Spanish colonists to call it El Río Hablador (the Talking River). For hundreds of years, residents and visitors treated the river like a wishing well. Local tradition says that courting couples and newlyweds walking near the historic Santa Rosa church would toss silver coins from the Puente de Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa bridge) into the water to wish for a happy, harmonious, and prosperous marriage. The recovered coins are typically irregular, hand-struck Spanish colonial silver cobs (often ½ Reales) minted in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries under rulers like Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II. Santa Rosa was born in 1586 into a wealthy background but dedicated her entire life to helping the poor and miserable. Legend says that Santa Rosa had the ability to heal sick people by showing them an image of Jesus and praying with the patient. At the young age of 31, Santa Rosa caught tuberculosis and died in 1617. 50 years later, she became the first person to be canonized by Pope Clement as Saint Rose of Lima. At the time the Rimac River bridge was built, in 1608, it was considered the largest stone structure in the Americas.
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