Spanish cob

Hello;

I am in need of some information. I dug this coin in central NJ. I was using a metal detector in a field about 20 yards from a road. I am pretty sure it is a Spanish cob. That's all I know. I have googled it and have not seen any like this one. It is well worn as you can see. Does any one know about how old it might be. Also looking for any other information on it.

Thank you very much.

 

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I can't help you with Spanish cobs, but I will say that's one sweet metal detector find!

And welcome to CT.

 

Thank you. I was in shock to see it come out of the ground.

 

What you have there is a Jerussalem cross 1622-1722 Mexico & Late Lima & Potosi mints
The Jerusalem cross or Potent Cross with the perpendicular arms was used by the Potosi mint from 1652-1772 and Lima mint from 1684-1751 These coins are very similar but can be distinguished by their mint marks of "L" & "R" respectively.
The later cob coins were made from odd shapped coin blanks or flans that were mass produced with little care to make them round. Much of the designs legend and date are missing from these macuguino coins.The quality of the coins produced in the Potosi mint became so poor that Charles II ordered all the coins recalled in 1650. Coins from the Potosi mint were issued again in 1652, struck with the new Pillar and wave design.

 

Wow. Great information. Thank you. Is it possible to narrow down the year this coin was minted.

 

The Jerusalem cross has a set of two castles top right of the cross and bottom left and two lions top left and bottom left. on the rev you can see the letter "R" the Assayers mark 1573-1576 Alonso de Rincon if minted from the Potosti mint
"R" 1535-1556 Francisco del Rincon if from the Mexico mint and "R" 1568-1570 Alonso de Rincon from the lima mint.

 

From what I can tell by your cob due to its wear late peroid L Lima mint 1568 1570 date

 

so I can say this coin was minted in the latter part of the sixteenth century?

 

Yes you may! BTW very nice find! many of these cobs went down in the 1715 plate fleet.
The 1715 fleet went down in a hurricane off central Florida in of course 1715

 

I can hardly believe it. Never could have imagined it.

 

Thank you so much!

 

You sir are very welcome! Enjoy your find....good luck finding more. The area you found it was there ever a tavern or hotel like establishment? Many of these cobs are also holed as sailors would wear then around their necks one reason while they slept no one could steal it and two if the ship went down it was around their neck if they lived they had their money.

One other tid bit I know you have heard of 2 bit 4 bits 6 bits a dollar...well most cobs struck were 8 reales and if you would pay for your purchases by cutting the cob thus pieces of eight. There were very few smaller reales made as they cut the 8's to make change.

 

here is a few images of a 8 Reale notice it weight and the "S" on the left of the shield minted in Seville, assayer NV, Ca1622-1666.

 

I always appreciate seeing that big hunk of silver, Paddy.

 

The first cob "8 Reale is from the Atocha the second is from the Johanna .Next I'm going to post some rare pictures given to me from Mel Fishers capt. the day the found the Atocha.

 

Here are a series of pictures that were sent to me by Mel Fisher's capt. He is the guy pictured catching the bag of emeralds last picture. He is also the person I purchased the Johanna cob from. Notice that Mel had Jimmy Buffett fly out to the mother ship to help celebrate the day! "Jimmy in the Yellow shirt and Mel sitting to the right. Mel's most notable quote" today is the day" meaning that today would be the day he found the Atocha there were many today's in his search.....as it took mel years to find the Atocha and also paid dearly as he lot a son and daughter in law in his quest for the Atocha. A freak accident while sleeping their boat blew a Valve filled very quickly with sea water and sunk...

 

:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb:
Back in the early 1980's me and a buddy found 2 cob part of on on a fishing trip on a island in the gulf of Mexico of of ForlBama @state line its a Big Bar + boat retail town about 5-10 bars tourist traps ect,
That one Nice one Paddy54!!!

 

The only thing I know about the place is that it was a regular farm field. The owner of the field said he found a bunch of rail spikes there.

 

The reason I ask is that I do know of places around here in Maryland ..there have been alot of items found at old building that were at one time a tavern or Inn. As well as trash dumps that were around an old estate as there was no trash pick up in those days. I remember in H.S. I took an archaeological class where we went and dug at a place called soldiers delight. This was enough land for a 100 soldiers to live on in the 1700 /1800's. It was also a garrison for the troops to protect the western edge of Baltimore. We found everything there....gun barrels shoe leather,bottles you name it.
I live now close to BWI airport this area was once tobacco farms and is really "the real Marlboro Country" walking the farms here the ones left you can find picker checks as well as some very old arrow heads when I say old... some 1000+ years B.C.! I have a friend who father had found so many Native American artifacts...walking these old farms. He had some carbon dated and that's how I got the 1000+ years B.C. date. Getting back to your find I am sure there are more in or around that area....if not cobs other finds that willmake you smile when you hear the dectector go bling!

 

Just Curious. Does any one know of a picture of this coin in good condition. I looked on the net. and could not find one. Thank you.