thenickelguy Posted February 12, 2023 · Member Share Posted February 12, 2023 (edited) Got these pretty cheap recently. Nothing Earth shaking. But I like them. Descriptions are from listings. I reworked the listing images a little for my own digital inventory. Spain. Fernando V & Isabella, 17mm billon Blanca 1474-1504 AD Has a crack, hard to decipher legends. Spain, Philip III, IV AE21 (8) maravedis. countermarks 1598 to 1621 AD Excellent quality example with many overlaying countermarks including BX monogram over Castle / Lion. Philip IV AE22 8 Maravedis. Castille & Leon. 1641-1665 AD. Struck on earlier maravedis from Philip II or III. Many overlapping countermarks. Edited February 12, 2023 by thenickelguy adding info. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted February 12, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted February 12, 2023 Those are really nice coins, thenickelguy. One theory regarding the origins of the term "cob" is that it is derived from the Spanish "cabo de barra" or end of the bar. Another theory, as described in Daniel Sedwick book on cobs, The Practical Book of Cobs, is that the word is connected with the Old English cob, meaning a small mass of something, or something lumpy, such as a "cob of coal" or a "cob of dirt". Regardless of its origin, cob refers to hammer struck gold and silver coinage produced in the Spanish colonies and in Spain from the 16th century to 1773. These hammer struck coins were basically ingots for export and not really intended for circulation as everyday currency, particularly for the large 8 reales and 8 escudos, but even also for the 4 reales and 4 escudos denominations. The smaller denominations did circulate locally, as indicated by the numerous worn examples out there. In my view, the copper 8 maravedis, which were used in everyday commerce, are cob-like in that they were produced with the same hammer striking and flan clipping technique, so I suppose they could be called cobs., But traditionally my experience has shown me that the term cob has been applied primarily to gold and silver coins in 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4 and 8 escudos or reales, produced in the period mentioned above. 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenickelguy Posted February 12, 2023 · Member Author Share Posted February 12, 2023 robinjojo Thank you for the compliments and awesome information. The time and thought is most appreciated. I am still on the lookout for a hammered silver 8 reale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursus Posted February 12, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted February 12, 2023 Nice examples! Late medieval and early modern Spanish coins are a fascinating and usually not too expensive collecting field full of small varieties. Spanish Monarchy, under Philip II, AE 4 maravedis, 1584–1585 AD, Burgos mint, moneyer: Juan De Morales. Obv: [+DON·PHELIPPE·II· ]; castle; in fields, B–M and circle Rev: [+REI·DE·LAS·HESPAÑAS]; crowned lion l. 21mm, 4.07g. Ref: Calíco 2008, 781. Spanish Monarchy, under Philip III, CU 4 maravedis (countermarked as 8 maravedis), 1602 AD, Segovia mint. Obv: +PHILIPPVS·III·D·G·OMNIVM; castle in octolobe; in field, C. Rev: ·HISPAN·REGNORVM·REX· 1602; crowned lion in octolobe; countermark: crowned VIII with B below. 27mm, 6.22g. Ref: Calíco 750. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted February 12, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted February 12, 2023 ..kool Mike! :)...i have a couple of 'cobs' in Spanish Habsburg coin collection..one of Phillip lll and Charles ll....quick pic of the group.. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.