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Message:: [QUOTE="CandiP, post: 318130, member: 11792"]Here's what I've found: have a modern manufactured private issue medal that commemorates the irregular shaped coinage of Spain that modern collectors call "cobs". The original coins were minted in Mints in Spain and in Mints all over "El Peru", what we call Latin America, from 1535 - to c. 1760 . The shape of the coin and its nick name "cob" comes from the method of manufacture (cabo de barra or end of a bar). A piece of hot gold or silver was cut from the end of an ingot, weighed and struck by hand between a set of dies. After the coin cooled, the coin was then weighed again and adjusted as necessary. The gold coins were minted in gold in 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and 8 escudos The silver in 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8 reales. For hundreds of years the Spanish 8 reales and 8 escudos were the world standard for money. The United States monetary system was based on this standard (8 reales=US$1) and in fact these Spanish coins were legal tender in the U.S. until 1858. By the 2nd third of the 18th century, the cob style of coinage gave way to the technological improvement of "milled" coinage. Round coinage with a security edge foiled the practice of clipping small pieces from coins, melting the accumulation and then selling the stolen silver or gold. Could someone help me find its worth??I'm sorry I cant seem to get a picture to take that is clear enough[/QUOTE]