12 Days of Christmas; 17th Century Colonial Mexico Philip IV 8 Reales Cob

A very special piece that was formerly listed on my ‘No-hope-in-hell-of-getting’ list has been made possible from my late Roommate before she departed. Deb knew I would love to have a few authentic period silver pieces mixed in my replica treasures and thus a piratey item is checked off my Christmas Wish List.

“Black birds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven.

Deb’s modest life insurance covered all funeral expenses, legal expenses, paid off the outstanding home repair loan in full, covered the outstanding debt on the car, and replenished our bare bones Emergency funds.

She even wanted to cover my elder son’s remaining college loan. That still left some leftover funds. I suggested, “A donation to our Church?”

Deb replied, “Some but I want you to get something for yourself first, I've been with you long enough that there are a few coins I know you have dreamt about so why not get them. I want you to be happy for me.” She clutched my left hand tighter, “I know you’re gonna have it tough after I’m gone. Don’t feel any guilt spending it okay?” She squeezed my hand and smiled.

She meant it. I put my pad and pen down and hugged her tight once again, a sniffle leaked out from my heart to my throat and we giggled a bit.

I know what you're thinking, these coins look like crap so they call them cobs so I'd agree but in my pirate heart they are awesome pieces of eight history. The Spanish literally minted them by the ship loads and be damned with quality control because the Spanish war machine accepts only real money in coin or cob.

Coining technology hasn’t really changed much over the thousands of years since the first coins were hammered into existence. A simple premeasured poured gold, silver, or bronze alloy button is heated up before being stamped between a pair of matched dies via a hammer blow.

Need a clearer idea of how ancient coins are made? On Youtube. ⚒

The Spanish or Colonial Mexico silver cob were well circulating by the time the Golden Age of Piracy came to be from 1650 to 1730s well before the development of the coin milling using some form of machinery.

Most coinage was of reasonably fair quality and consistent so long as demand for currency remained gradually consistent. However that wasn’t the case as frequent wars, growing worldwide commerce and the enormous flow of gold and silver from the western hemisphere put mints at maximum capacity. At which mints churned out cobs of various shapes other than round as long as they were the right amount and the markings are reasonably recognizable.

The cob I have here today for you has enough details to make it identifiable. It’s condition is remarkably light in wear for it’s apparent age and may have been cleaned not long ago judging from the lack of lustre. Present are a series of test holes at the 9 o’clock position of the obverse with a few small chops. The cob is 6 to 7 mm smaller in diameter but thicker as if the hammer blow wasn’t sufficient enough to increase the diameter to the standard 39mm size. The weight was slightly over the expected weight.

With the smaller diameter, this cob ended up lacking 90% of it’s inscription of it’s original intended design. On the Obverse only a fragment of the inscription remain “…I·G·16…” of “…·DEI·G·16xx…” I felt sure the second digit is 6 since 0 or 8 could not be possible. The Shield Crest configuration is identified with King Philip IV 1605-1665 confirming a coin with a 16xx date. The oMP letters located left of the shield indicate the Mexico Mint under the mint master identified as P which sets the mintage dates between 1634 to 1665. BINGO!

Thus this cob is identified as 16xx Colonial Mexico 8 Reales – Philip IV
Easy cheesy pirate peasey.
Am I wrong? Let me know in the comments below.

I like this chunky little Cob, it's a common mintage compared many others yet it is truly an authentic piece that seen trade for hundreds of years after minting. I'm not sure of the test holes, but the little chop marks put these circulating in China for a short while before being locked away for decades after.

Have a happy and prosperous New Year my friends! 🎉

The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!

12 Days of Christmas Wish list posts;

Day 1; 2013 $50 Canada HMS Shannon & The USS Chesapeake
Day 2; 2017 2 oz.Davy Jones Locker silver round, Privateer Series.
Day 3; 2013 $1 Tuvalu The Dementer, Famous Ships that never sailed series.
Day 4; 2015 Finding Silverbug Island Community Round.
Day 5, St. Bee’s Silver Throwing Star.
Day 6, 2022 $5 Niue Grand Shipwrecks of the World; San Jose.

12 Days of Christmas Wish List Fulfilled posts;

Day 7, A Gift from my Mentor; Gold Spartan’s Silver Pirate ship V2.
Day 8, A gift from my Secret Santa Predatum in Mundo.
Day 9, A gift from @enginewitty; 2022 Samoa 2 Tala Princess of the seas.
Day 10, A gift from my late Roommate; 16xx Colonial Mexico Philip IV 8 Reales Cob.
Day 11, A gift from Nyssacat; 1622 Type 2 Atocha Fantasy 8 Reales
Day 12, The Finale.

References

My own pictures shot with an ancient 2018 Samsung SM-A530W
P. Image under Pixabay
W. Wiki Commons
☠️🎃 Page Dividers by thekittygirl. ❄️🌞

PCGS; The History of Hammered & Milled Coinage.
Wiki; King Philip IV of Spain.

Cameo Raven Brooch from The Black Wardrobe.
3.5 Troy oz. 3D Pirate ship by the Gold Spartan.
Silversaver’s 2023 Hive Silver Round, to order this 2023 Hive round.