Potosi Cob Coins, Potosi mint Cobs

New World Treasures
Spanish Colonial Coins and Artifacts
906-779-3794

[ Mexico Cob Coins ] [ Potosi Cob Coins ] [ Other Cob Coins ]
[ Back To Spanish Coins ]
[ Home ] [ Order ]

Spanish Cob Coins
Potosi Mint

Cob coins were minted at the Potosi mint from 1574 through 1773, when they were permanently replaced by the machine struck milled bust dollar in 1773. Interestingly, cobs continued to be struck at Potosi well after cob production ceased at the other colonial mints, and in fact, continued to be manufactured in parallel with the mints own machine struck milled pillar dollar between 1767 and 1770. The mint began operations striking the shield type cob variety, but the famous 1640's Potosi mint scandal lead to a switchover from the shield type to the pillars-and-waves type in 1652. Dates first appeared on Potosi cobs in 1617, but are seldom visible.

A Certificate of Authenticity will be supplied only on request.

Click on picture to enlarge

2 Reales

Item#: 4440
Denomination: 2 reales
Mint: Potosi
Assayer: M over R
Weight: 6.8 grams
Diameter: 1.2 inches

Price: $795.00 SOLD

Shield type cob, Potosi mint, Philip II, assayer M struck over R, circa: 1574-1577, graded very fine. One of the earliest issues from this mint, which began operations in 1574 under the direction of Alonso de Rincon, the mints very first assayer. Assayer M followed or possibly even worked in unison with assayer R (Rincon) during the first couple of years of mint operation and their coins share the same details of design. This coin is proof of the assayer sequence; note that the assayer mark M is clearly struck over an earlier R, meaning M used Rincon's dies and added his superimposed assayer mark. This is a rare and highly significant coin and an essential addition to any Potosi shield type cob collection.

Click on picture to enlarge 4 Reales	Item#: 4204 Denomination: 4 reales Mint: Potosi Assayer: A Weight: 13.5 grams Diameter: 1.3 inches Price: $595.00 SOLD
Shield type cob, Potosi mint, Philip II, assayer A, circa: 1586-1589, grade very fine. An exceptionally high quality coin struck during the time period of the famous defeat of the invincible Spanish Armada. Due to the time period and typically high quality, assayer A coins are very popular with collectors.

Click on picture to enlarge

8 Reales

Item#: 4197
Denomination: 8 reales
Mint: Potosi
Assayer: RL
Weight: 27.3 grams
Diameter: 1.5-1.6 inches

Price: $395.00 SOLD

Shield type cob, Potosi mint, Philip II, assayer RL, circa: 1593-1596, grade choice very fine. Exceptionally well struck and nicely centered full cross with all lions and castles well detailed. Bold, double struck full shield with excellent details, but with the double strike muddling the assayer mark so that only the upper left portion is fully visible. Distinctive style of assayers B and RL, but the visible portion of the assayer mark suggests this coin was struck under assayer RL. An exceptional full weight and full diameter 8 reales cob with some of nicest cross side details of any we've seen from this mint for the time period.

Click on picture to enlarge

8 Reales

Item#: 4229
Denomination: 8 reales
Mint: Potosi
Assayer: Q
Weight: 26.2 grams
Diameter: 1.5 inches

Price: $495.00 BUY ITEM

Shield type cob, Potosi mint, Philip III, circa: 1613-1616, grade fine / very fine. Nicely struck full cross and shield with bold mint and assayer marks P and Q. Likely recovered from the Atocha shipwreck where it would have received the highest grade (grade 1), but listed as a land find coin because we can not prove provenance. This coin would sell for around $2000 with the original certificate of authentically.

Click on picture to enlarge 8 Reales	Item#: 5153 Denomination: 8 reales Mint: Potosi Assayer: P Weight: 27.1 grams Diameter: 1.4-1.5 inches Price: $395.00 BUY ITEM
Shield type cob, Potosi mint, Philip IV, assayer P, circa: 1623-1624, grade fine. Nicely struck cross with transposed lions and castles; equally nice shield, both well centered and nicely toned. Coins from this time period are relatively rare, particularly in this condition. An excellent coin.

Click on picture to enlarge

8 Reales

Item#: 7211
Denomination: 8 reales
Mint: Potosi
Assayer: E
Weight: 26.9 grams
Diameter: 1.4-1.6 inches

Price: $495.00 BUY ITEM

Pillars and waves type cob, Charles II, assayer E, dated 1670, grade very fine. Nice full cross with crown above, bold mint and assayer marks P and E, a hint of the date 1670 below the cross, some areas of flatness. Equally nice pillars side with two bold mintmarks P, assayer mark E, denomination mark 8, and date 1670 (the bottoms of all 4 digits are visible in the legend). This coin is nicely toned and has great eye appeal.

Click on picture to enlarge 8 Reales	Item#: 5144 Denomination: 8 reales Mint: Potosi Assayer: VR Weight: 27.6 grams Diameter: 1.5-1.6 inches Price: $545.00 BUY ITEM
Pillars and waves type cob, Charles II, assayer VR, dated 1690, cleaned grade choice fine. This is a special coin in that both denomination marks 8, all three mintmarks P, all three assayer marks VR, and all three dates are visible; it is rare to have all visible at the same time. An exceptional coin.

TOP OF PAGE

nwtreas@chartermi.net
906-779-3794