Quote:
Originally Posted by GDJMSP  It's not that the design is worn off the coin, it was never there to begin with. These rough cobs like this were cut from very rough cast ignots of refined silver. The pieces were sliced off in what the mint master thought would be the correct approximate weight. Then the piece would be weighed, and if over-weight smaller pieces would be cut off it a piece at a time until the correct weight was achieved. Only then was the coin struck.
But because the shape of the cob planchet was so irregular with many different angles, only small portions of the design were ever imparted to the planchets by the dies. |
I'll agree to disagree on this one due to the fact of being a surf wreck I have several reale cobs in my collection none like this one . its like drift wood or sea glass that some make jewelry out of.....I understand the minting process first smashing the round bars to flat stock then cutting the flat stock into cob size pieces...next being hammer struck by hand" not always a good strike or a centered one. next being given to the assayer to weight and them trimed to around 25/28 gr. the weight of a 8 reale. What does puzzle me is this on this cob.... most beach wrecks cobs are pitted from the sand and salt. this cob has no pits. Maybe due to the fact that it was not in the sea as long as others I have seen. But I do respect your view on this cob and just happy to share a bit of knowage of the wreck and a really neat coin in my collection. Regards Paddy
