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What can you tell me about this 8 Reales?.... Anybody?
STONE
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I was told this was a Philip IV 8 Reales, but struck in 1666-1667, after Philip IV died in 1665, at the Mexico City mint.
I was also told that this has the Assay Mark "G" (Geronimo Bercerra) which would confirm the 1666-1667 dates, but I don't know where this assay mark is on the coin.
I was just wondering if someone here could confirm this, and maybe add some other information about this coin.
Again, any help would be great as I know absolutely nothing about these coins. Thanks
(I apologize for the size discrepency for the images, but they are the best I can do at the moment)
I was also told that this has the Assay Mark "G" (Geronimo Bercerra) which would confirm the 1666-1667 dates, but I don't know where this assay mark is on the coin.
I was just wondering if someone here could confirm this, and maybe add some other information about this coin.
Again, any help would be great as I know absolutely nothing about these coins. Thanks
(I apologize for the size discrepency for the images, but they are the best I can do at the moment)
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Your coin was carried by a famous conquistador on horse back across the continent. Your cob was left at the base of the alter at a mission on the Sea of Cortez as a token of atonement for his participation in the genocide of the native people of the region.
From there your coin, along with the rest of the annual tithe of the mission to the Vatican was loaded on a ship bound for same.
While shooting the Straits of Magellan the ship, Borrowed Light, ran aground in the frigid waters of Cape Horn. The crew survived but for one causalty, a midshipman of little account.
Over the following three days, the Borrowed Light was battered to pieces by wind and waves on rocky shoals. The crew worked to recover what they could from the wreck before she was lost to the foam forever. Your coin was pulled from the hold on the second day.
The crew began a long trek up through what we know today as Chile. Many died of cold and hunger that winter. The locals finished off the rest.
Your piece of eight was taken as the spoils of war and used to trade with Englishmen for weapons, with which to fight the Spanish. The Englishmen brought your coin on their marine voyage around the Horn and up the east coast of South America to the island we know today as Cuba.
Your coin was used in trade for supplies loaded on their ship, HMS Scarlet Saber, for the voyage back to England. Specifically your cob, along with two more were used to purchase two heads of cattle that were butchered and salted for preservation on the long journey. As a side note, the HMS Scarlet Saber sunk on her return voyage to New Brennenford - the wreck was only discovered last year off the southwest coast of England.
I’m a little fuzzy about how your cob got from Cuba in 1701 to you today. Perhaps someone else knows more of the story.
That's why I'm skeptical, for now, of what was said of this coin.
Oh and Zeebob, that was a great story
LIPVS IIII.
While the mint mark is not visible, the mint is with out a doubt Mexico City. The cross has a rounded knob on each end. Mexico City is the only mint that used this cross design. Everything you were told about the coin is true. The shield side is well above average for this peroid, while the cross side is only average. If it is close to full weight it is a nice coin for the peroid.
Full weight would be just over 27g.
A great book for learning about cobs is The Practical Book of Cobs by Daniel Sedwick. Its not very expensive and has a lot of info on this peroid of history.
<< <i>The denomination is to the right of the shield. A very clear 8 is visible there so it is an 8 Reales. There is a clear letter G to the left of the shield. That is the assayer. Also the last letters of Phillip are visible along with the ordinal. Starting at 3 oclock to the right of the eight.
LIPVS IIII.
While the mint mark is not visible, the mint is with out a doubt Mexico City. The cross has a rounded knob on each end. Mexico City is the only mint that used this cross design. Everything you were told about the coin is true. The shield side is well above average for this peroid, while the cross side is only average. If it is close to full weight it is a nice coin for the peroid.
Full weight would be just over 27g.
A great book for learning about cobs is The Practical Book of Cobs by Daniel Sedwick. Its not very expensive and has a lot of info on this peroid of history. >>
Thank you so much, and I will need to pick that book up.