Mexico (1556-98)-Mo F 8 reales
The first specimen was lot 33060 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "Mexico. Philip II Cob 8 Reales ND (1556-1598) Mo-F AU58 NGC, Mexico City mint. Virtually Mint State, with nearly full luster preserved in the fields and no clearly discernible wear detectable to the rougher raised sections - these a product of the crude striking process employed in the type's production as opposed to any actual mishandling or use in trade. A fine relic of the early Spanish colonial age, with prominent flan cracks at the edges contributing to a quintessential cob appearance." The second specimen was lot 71378 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, October 2021), where it sold for $456. The catalog description[2] noted, "MEXICO. Cob 8 Reales, ND (1556-98)-Mo F. Mexico City Mint. Phillip II. NGC EF Details--Environmental Damage. Still retaining ample detail and a near complete shield, this very presentable shipwreck issue is an excellent choice both for specialists or those who wish to add variety to their collections. Ex: Rill Cove wreck, sunk ca. 1618 off the coast of Cornwall, England." This type was not dated and the terms of service of the various assayers ("F" in this case) are still hotly disputed. Assayer F also struck eight reales with the value expressed as "VIII". In 1728, cobs were debased from .931 to 0.917 fine silver.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 27.47 g, 0.931 fine silver, the first specimen 27.2 g, the second specimen 27.28 g.
Catalog reference: KM-43, Cayón-3914 (value as "8").
- Krause, Chester L., and Colin R. Bruce II, Standard Catalog of World Coins: Spain, Portugal and the New World, Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2002.
- Cayón, Adolfo, Clemente Cayón and Juan Cayón, Las Monedas Españolas, del Tremis al Euro: del 411 a Nuestros Dias, 2 volumes, Madrid: Cayón-Jano S.L., 2005.
- Calicó, Xavier, Numismática Española: Catálogo General con Precios de Todas las Monedas Españolas Acuñadas desde Los Reyes Católicos Hasta Felipe VI, 1474 a 2020, Barcelona: Aureo & Calicó, 2019.
- Menzel, Sewall, Cobs, Pieces of Eight and Treasure Coins, New York: The American Numismatic Society, 2004.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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