The backstory, I sold a Guatemalan Milagro Necklace, or Chachal to Guatemalans, back in 2005 and regretted it ever since. I'll enclose pictures. It had Milagros and Guatemalan and Spanish or Mexican coins and cobs. The tiny charms are called Milagros, used to ask for miracles for healing the body part they represent. Sometimes they're hands, legs, hearts, lungs, eyes, etc. My Milagro necklace was the best and most authentic I've seen in decades and I've been trying to find its equal, (that I can afford), for nearly two decades, to no avail. Therefore, I've decided to try and assemble the parts to create another, each piece being exactly like the original, as much as is humanly possible. Here's where the coins come in, there were Guatemalan coins that are not too difficult to find, but then there are Spanish or Mexican cobs, one of them seems authentic. I would like to know what that coin is called and how I may find another. I bought what claims to be an authentic Spanish/ Mexican cob. It may be a Mexico 1618-Mo D Half Real; is it authentic? If you could tell me what the cob on the necklace is called and also if the coin I bought is authentic, I would be very appreciative. Thanks so much in advance, Mary
Honestly, the coin you just bought looks a lot more authentic than the one in the necklace. The one in the necklace I would flag as a fake personally. Not an expert in them, but comparing versus authentic examples.
Huh, interesting. I did not expect to hear that. What would the coin on the necklace be called? If it were real that is. Anyone know? Thanks
Hi and welcome to the forum! I am not an expert, but I do have an interest after having found one of these on the South Carolina coast years ago. They are called Spanish Cobbs because they are hand struck. The are also known as Spanish Reale's. The size of the coin does determine whether it is two, four or eight Reale's and that size roughly mimics the size of our US coins. The Cobb in your photo above would be two Reale's. Four Reale's is about the size of a half dollar and eight reale's about the size of a silver dollar...... Sadly, @medoraman is correct. The pieces on the necklace aren't genuine and that isn't uncommon, however it does appear the piece you are showing in the photo next to the quarter may be authentic..... These aren't usually too terribly expensive really. It's like with any coin, there are certain characteristics, mintmarks and the like that can make some more valuable than others. I'll add a link below (I hope) that will take you to Daniel Sedwick's website. He specializes in Spanish Cobbs and you should find plenty to peruse over on his site. Welcome again! www.sedwickcoins.com
Thank you Randy. Well, I don't own the necklace anymore, but the one I create will have genuine coins. So, there's that. I've seen Sedwickcoins before, but haven't had the time to delve in. So much to do. There's another coin on the necklace, a common Guatemalan Real, with what I think is called a serrated edge. Is that what it's called, a serrated edge? Thanks Mary
I found this on CoinFacts Wiki, https://www.coinfactswiki.com/wiki/Mexico_1618-Mo_D_1/2_real It looks like the coin I bought.
I do not think the serration came from the mint. It was done for whatever reason after it left the mint. Very few serrated coins were ever made at the mints, with a few Roman Republican coins and Seleucid bronzes being the few I am aware of, but they were 1800 years or more before this coin.
Yes medoraman, I knew it wasn't made that way in the mint, I just wanted to know if 'serrated' would be the correct nomenclature in the coin world. I've seen listings for coins that were decorated this way, I just didn't remember what the seller called it. Thanks.
When you make the necklace, try to attach the coins without drilling a hole in them like the ones in the picture. (Or try to just buy the coins with holes in them already! Cheaper and easier.)
I've read that some notches in coinage were 'test cuts' by merchants to see if the metal was gold or silver and not a bogus copy.
Some were, some "notches" were caused by the planchet splitting during the striking, and some notches were deliberately put on counterfeits before plating to try and make the coin look like a previous merchant had already cut a notch for testing and found it to be "solid all through".
Most test cuts were deep cuts in the body of the coin. Most plating would be thicker around the edges, so one shouldn't test there. "Serrated" coins were always done deliberately, either by the mint for some unknown purpose, (maybe ancient way to prevent shaving the edges, what we used reeds today for), or others post mint for decoration.
"some notches were deliberately put on counterfeits". Seems like someone will always try to get over the easy way. I guess as long as there has been money, there has been counterfeiters.
