Spanish coin pendant

[mcogan / L.I. Mongo Mike]

Found this Treasure Ship pendant on a Long Island beach. I believe it to be a 1 Reale Cob from the Mexico mint.
The cross on the reverse is in the style of a Jerusalem cross and the balls on the end of each arm, my research tells me, is indicative of the Mexico mint. Late 1700,s to early 1800,s.
Any other information would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[Mackaydon]

The design of the cross reminds me of a 4R cob of Felipe V 1733 or 1734. If real, it's .916 fine and quite valuable. Rotating the coin 90 degrees to the left will produce proper N/S alignment.
Don.....

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks fake to me but I am not an expert

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Why is it round?

 

[Mackaydon]

A cob can be any shape, including round and heart-shaped.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I suppose someone could cut one down but the weight would be incorrect and I would expect a genuine round cob from the mint to be very rare. It doesnt matter it looks bad to me. It looks like a cast jewelry piece made to look like a cob but never meant to fool anybody. It may be real silver and the bezel may be gold. Nice find.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Bolivia 1693-P VR 2 reales cob - CoinFactsWiki

 

[TN_INDIAN]

very cool find real r fake

 

[DCMatt]

Search Google images for "shipwreck jewelry" to see more examples.

DCMatt

 

[Mackaydon]

BCH,
Perfectly round (and centered) examples from the mint were called Presentation Pieces--trimmed (to round) to present to the King to show the degree of qualtiy that mint could produce. Persentation pieces were never intended for circulation. Other than Presentation pieces, any cob could easily be trimmed (and many were) and those trimmings accumulated then sold as silver (abount 92% fine). Weight, not configuration is what I find most indicative of a cob's denomination; using approx. 27.5 grams as a benchmark for an 8R coin; proportionally less for lower values. Clearly, this coin, though 'round' is not in pristine condition therefore it was not a Presentation piece.
I don't authenticate; I only describe as if it were an authentic coin.
Don.......

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

BCH,
Perfectly round (and centered) examples from the mint were called Presentation Pieces--trimmed (to round) to present to the King to show the degree of qualtiy that mint could produce. Persentation pieces were never intended for circulation. Other than Presentation pieces, any cob could easily be trimmed (and many were) and those trimmings accumulated then sold as silver (abount 92% fine). Weight, not configuration is what I find most indicative of a cob's denomination; using approx. 27.5 grams as a benchmark for an 8R coin; proportionally less for lower values. Clearly, this coin, though 'round' is not in pristine condition therefore it was not a Presentation piece.
I don't authenticate; I only describe as if it were an authentic coin.
Don.......

OK thanks. I figured a round cob would be rare. If it was real, it looks to have quite a bit trimmed off but I seriously doubt its authentic. Heres an example of a Mexican cob I found on the beach. They are cut odd sizes, weighed, trimmed, weighed again and stamped. A very fast and crude production method.

You could post in the shipwreck forum to be absolutely sure. Divewrecks or Realswatcher could authenticate.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I mean the Spanish Cob section.

 

[Mackaydon]

A large number of cobs, excluding Presentation pieces, were never intended for general circulation. Instead, they were intended to pay debts to other countries who financed Spain's 'adventures'. Once Spanish galleons arrived in Spain, some vessels unloaded their cargo of cobs directly onto ships of other countries--in payment of those debts. There, they would be melted down to create coinage of their own country.

The shape of the cob coin was determined by the manner in which the bar of silver was 'rolled' at the mint, by the amount of trimming required to bring the coin down to standard weight and by the creativity of the those at the mint ('hearts').
Don...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I just noticed you said 1 reale. Mine is an 8 reale. No matter I still think it a jewelry piece. Here i8s what they should look like. Pic found on internet.

 

[mcogan / L.I. Mongo Mike]

Thanks for the input.
I have one other source that also doubts the authencity of this find.
I will keep you informed.
Anybody else have any ideas.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks for the input.
I have one other source that also doubts the authencity of this find.
I will keep you informed.
Anybody else have any ideas.

Post in our Spanish Cob forum if you have any doubts about it being a replica jewelry piece. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/spanish-cobs/

 

[CRUSADER]

I think it unlikely to be real.

Another question, is, if it were a treasured piece that I found & commissioned a gold mount, I would sure as hell make sure that at least 1 side was the right way up.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think it unlikely to be real.

Another question, is, if it were a treasured piece that I found & commissioned a gold mount, I would sure as hell make sure that at least 1 side was the right way up.

LOL