COB CRAZY!!!
SimonW
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Ok, not that crazy, I’ve been slowly putting together a modest group of later/date “design set” of Bolivian Cobs. Two come from the Rutherford sale. The others from a smattering of places.
1770 8R, I liked this one because of the extra 7 in the date, additionally it closely matches the 1770 Milled Potosi coin that I own. They’re brothers from the same mother, if you will. 😜
This next one is 1740, 4R, also significant doubling on the date. eBay purchase.
1733 2R, This date always seems significant to me, probably because 1733 is a pretty significant year in Mexican numismatics, only outdone by 1732. This one has three dates stamped, which is what drew me to it in addition to the year. 
1771, 1R, a significant year because Pillar coin production ended this year (even though Peru continued for another year, they weren’t supposed to 😂) 
1752 1/2 real, this is another interesting year for me, first real year of full production for milled Peruvian coins. 
Post your COBS!
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Comments
I really like your cobs. Tks for the post
Thanks!
Anyone have a cob to share?
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I will play, if you allow a stretch of the definition of cob:
Macuquina with mostly full details are scarce just because of the method of manufacture. Here are a few of mine.
It's likely that the recortado issues started out as macuquina but were run through the newly introduced roller presses that were intended to flatten silver ingots into strips so the final strike occurred in the new screw presses.
It counts in my book, unless I’m submitting to PCGS, in which case it’s a non-hammered milled coin (economy level rather that regular.)
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I'm not sure PCGS or NGC recognize the clipping of coins down to North African standards as a legitimate category to authenticate.
Well played… this is one area of numismatics that I have not adequately studied. Thanks for sharing as it does provide incentive to look alittle harder form them.
Experience the World through Numismatics...it's more than you can imagine.
They delineate hammered versus non hammered in their categories. I never could figure out what they’re talking about exactly, but I assume a cob falls in the category of hammered, early Guatemala pieces don’t technically fall into that category, even though they look like cobs. They’ve been stamped with a screw press, if I’m not mistaken.
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@SimonW said:
Cross referencing Jara (2010) and Jara y Pais (2021) these are "hand-struck" and not technically cobs, as Guatemala had a milling machine and die punches by 1733, but not a suitable coining press. Early experiments in hand-striking flat round flans in 1733 produced weak details, so the mint resorted to hand-striking irregular flans of standard mass until all requisite equipment to produce milled coinage arrived by 1754.
Many hand-struck coins from this period accordingly show evidence of multiple strikes, as does the 1741 G J 1R above.
@Plus00Vltra so these are “milled” but not minted with a screw press. I had that backwards. So are they technically milled AND hammered?
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Nope, not milled, just hammered, or in Jara's parlance, "hand-struck."
Coiners gave up on milling after a few bad results dated 1733. Hand striking milled flans could not deliver an even enough blow to impress all details, even after clear multiple strikes.
...and I commandeered this discussion. Apologies.
At the beginning of the 1733 coinage, they were having problems producing the round "modern" PLANCHETS with any kind of efficacy... so they quickly gave up and pivoted back to using hand-cut cob-style planchets. These were, however, still struck with the same new-style machinery/dies.
It's essentially the same idea as when (at the exact same time) Mexico klippe dies struck cob-style planchets (rather than standard rolled/leveled "klippe-style" planchets).
That’s right, the 1733 was the milled effort. I forgot about that. I’d like one.
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I’ve always wondered why the Guatemala “cobs” are so much better at uniforms thickness. Anyone know more about this? They’re significantly better than the other cobs, especially those being produced in Bolivia at the same time.
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I'm not particularly interested in cobs, but still want to buy a few "royals", especially from Mexico and Peru. But as usual, those I want are expensive and getting more so.
Yeah, me too on the Royals.
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Oh baby, tell me more..
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I concur with this sentiment. Here is my only "cob," a Royal 8R of Philip V from Mexico, ex Millennia, ex FCC Boyd. Despite trying very hard, I have not been able to obtain another that speaks to me.
Way out of my price range. I could have bought the 1/2R or maybe it was a 1R numerically graded I've seen recently (sold by Stacks I think), but the last few have been far above the price point I have bought too. More likely, I'd buy a higher grade holed but still nice one. These were all Mexico.
I think I might have seen one Peru 4R I liked (sold by Sedwick), but also far above my price range. I don't recall seeing any others I liked.
OK, @pruebas, here's a target... sort of on the outer periphery of/transition from "cob", but close enough - and it actually fits in perfectly with your main focus. There are a handful of pieces struck with the 1733 Mexico klippe dies... on ROUND flans. I forget exactly if these are thought to be a type of pattern/trial... or something similar to a Royal or presentation piece... or perhaps mint sport? I believe they are known with either a plain edge OR with a tulip pattern like on the pillars.
Here's one - I believe I saw another in person.
After this, I guess we should steer the thread back towards fugly hammered cut lumps.
Royals certainly have a place here. Some are quite nicely made, but the early ones essentially just look like really well made cobs.
Here’s another “fugly hammered cut lump.”
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1752 2R, And yes, that’s a triple stamp
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only one I have currently
Charles III Album
Charles III Portrait Set
Charles IV Album
Charles IV Portrait Set
Spanish Colonial Pillar Set
Interesting that all 4 weigh almost exactly 27grms, the holes were most likely bubbles in the silver bar, not holes drilled post strike.
Terribly interesting stuff. Thanks for educating me on this subject. Watched a few videos on the hand struck cob.
Formerly known as deadmunny
Positive transactions with: slantycouch, dontippet, Gerard, Scrapman1077, USMC_6115, rah1959
Cobs? I enjoy a cob or two
@dfrosty301
Well played! How long have you been putting the set together?
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About a year and a half or so. Focusing on dates now but if I see upgrades I always try and acquire them. It's getting a lot harder though. The only cob not pictured is a 1743 4 reales now in a NGC VF-20
Cool! Pics?
I see at least a couple of those that I fought you for! 🫣😂
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Project when time permits: reconstructing complete dies using incomplete coins. I tried it once with PCGS images of two 1747 G J 2R that sold at Stack's Bowers (one of which is mine):
The obverses have identical die breaks so I was sure of the match. The G mintmarks are upside down in each, which is an unrecognized variety.
Yonaka left this space open as his work is concerned solely with the milled coins. Maybe someday I will politely request photos of your 1733-1753 Guatemala coins to see how far I can get...
@Plus00Vltra
That’s cool! A very worthy endeavor.
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I picked this one up at the 2025 FUN show in Orlando this January.