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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GDJMSP, post: 2824835, member: 112&quot;]Not everybody may realize it but cob coins were not struck the way they were because of any lack of technology. The technology to mint coins quite effectively had existed for hundreds of years before Columbus ever landed in the New World.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cob coins, silver, gold, and even cooper, were struck the way they were because of Royal Decree by the Spanish crown. Spaniards in the New World were instructed to mint the coins as quickly as possible so they could be shipped back to Spain as quickly as possible, with the only requirement being that they bear the mark of the Spanish crown. The Spanish King did this so he could more effectively keep track of what was known as the &quot;Royal Fifth&quot;. In simple terms it was much easier to count coins and thus keep track of accounting than it was to weigh gold and silver ingots. And it helped prevent cheating.</p><p><br /></p><p>Of course a small portion the minted coins were kept in the New World to be used in local commerce. And it was deemed quite acceptable for the crude coins to serve this purpose while at the same time fulfilling an immediate need for such.</p><p><br /></p><p>Also bear in mind that presentation pieces were also struck at these colonial mints using the same modern (at the time) technology that was available in Spain itself. Thus producing coins of equal high quality. </p><p><br /></p><p>This coin that I used to own is one of the first coins actually struck in the New World. It was struck in the personal home of Hernan Cortez, in Mexico, in 1542. And as you can plainly see, even then technology was not an issue. Not an issue at all.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]664426[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]664427[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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