g110903025029

Cobs and Macuquinas from Potosi, Bolivia coins

 

SILVER COBS OF POTOSI, BOLIVIA, 1574-1773

When it comes to silver cobs, no mint was more prolific than Potosí, Bolivia, where an entire mountain of silver was discovered in the early 1500s. It took a little while before authorities figured out that a mint was needed on site, where the silver was being mined, even though the extreme remoteness and elevation presented major problems that were never fully resolved. The most egregious problem, perhaps, was an almost lawless environment where silver barons controlled the government and took full advantage by owning and profiting from mint offices and even by debasing the silver itself, causing a major scandal that put the entire world on its financial ear in the mid-1600s. Up to that point Potosí struck shield-type cobs, some of which were then recalled and either melted or countermarked (to attest to proper fineness) in 1652. To rectify the whole system, a new design was begun in that year, starting with some "transitional" issues and culminating in the pillars-and-waves design that became a global mainstay again throughout the rest of the 1600s and most of the 1700s. In 1773 the last cob ever struck came off the press in Potosí, long since superseded by milled coins (begun there in 1767).

 

 

Image Preview

(Click image to enlarge)

Description

Item#

Price

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, Philip II, P-B (2nd period), Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, Philip II, P-B (2nd period), "Great Module." Typically oversized flan that shows the border of dots beyond the legends, a bit doubled but with clear inner details (shield and cross) and most of king's name, crude old hole at the very edge past one arm of the cross. g040904191040 $350
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, Philip III, P-R (curved leg). Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, Philip III, P-R (curved leg). Choice broad-planchet specimen with bold assayer, full shield and cross (slightly doubled), VF+ with a light dusting of contrasting sediment throughout. g010907453002 $325
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1628T, scarce with clear date. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1628T, scarce with clear date. Full shield and cross (the former slightly doubled), especially nice borders (dots), with clear 1628 date beyond, lightly toned Fine+. g080913022001 $325
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, (1640s), assayer not visible, with possible unofficial countermark at edge, rare. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, (1640s), assayer not visible, with possible unofficial countermark at edge, rare. Crude as usual for issue, with most of shield and well-detailed lion and castle, toned VF with flat areas and minor edge-split, but potentially valuable as showing a semicircular depression at the edge that looks like a contemporary but unofficial attempt to re-create an arms countermark. g040904191041 $240

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, Philip II, P-A. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, Philip II, P-A. Round flan with good full cross, full shield, AVF with spots of toning, desirable as pedigreed to the Mark Bir collection. g110904191014 $195

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, Philip II, P-B (5th period). Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, Philip II, P-B (5th period). Typically thick, round flan with full shield and cross (the latter weak due to natural concavity) , lightly toned Fine, desirable as similar to Atocha (1622) specimens. g080916161002 $95
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, Philip IV, P-T (early 1640s). Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, Philip IV, P-T (early 1640s). Full and bold shield and cross (the latter slightly off-center) but typically crude in style, clear assayer T, spotty toning, Fine or better, scarce period. g010807095005 $75

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, Philip III or IV, scarce type with no mintmark nor assayer. Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, Philip III or IV, scarce type with no mintmark nor assayer. Nice specimen with full cross, full but doubled monogram, distinctive crown, toned VF. g010807099016 $85
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, Philip IV, no assayer, PLVS (VLTRA) in legend (scarce type). Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, Philip IV, no assayer, PLVS (VLTRA) in legend (scarce type). With full monogram and cross, some clear legend, Fine with some dark sediment. g070818151036 $75

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, (1652)E, transitional Type V. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, (1652)E, transitional Type V. Choice bold detail all over, attractively toned AVF, with old hole near edge. g080903101005 $100

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1669E. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1669E. Three full dates (the one in the legend oddly missing the last digit), good but off-center waves and pillars, Fine with minor edge-crack, variable thickness, nicely toned. g110710181001 $395
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1672E. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1672E. Two dates, 3 assayers and mintmarks, good full cross and pillars, nicely old-toned VF, scarce as non-salvage. g010907466002 $395
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1676E. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1676E. Bold full pillars and waves and cross, 2 weak dates, slightly doubled, a bit silvery but nicely toned on fields, scarce as non-salvage. g110903025020 $235
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1694VR. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 8 reales, 1694VR. Great full cross, 2 dates and assayers and mintmarks, full but doubled pillars, toned VF with minor encrustation, one edge-split. g050804191042 $295

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, 1767V-Y, re-punched final digit of date. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, 1767V-Y, re-punched final digit of date. Nicely toned Fine with clear 76 of date, the final digit a bit messy from re-punching, typically crude. g010907473007 $135
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, 1769(V-Y). Potosí, Bolivia, cob 4 reales, 1769(V-Y). Very odd shape (sort of triangular) and of very uneven thickness but very high grade (XF), nicely toned, and with a good amount of detail (2 bold dates and bold denomination 4). g040706929017 $225

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1689VR. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1689VR. Large flan, interesting shape, 3 assayers, 2 mintmarks, good full cross, one full pillar, lightly toned VF with peripheral flatness, oddly underweight (5.2 grams). g050804191047 $195
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1691VR. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1691VR. Two dates, good full cross and pillars, AVF with some flatness, very lightly toned. g070818151017 $185
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1699F, scarce. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1699F, scarce. One full pillar with bold date and denomination and mintmark, full but weak cross, salvaged Fine with edge-split and patchy toning. g070818151024 $150
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1751(q/E?). Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1751(q/E?). Full pillars, good but off-center cross, typically chunky, toned About Fine. g110903025038 $85
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1753C/q, rare over-assayer. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1753C/q, rare over-assayer. Two dates, typically chunky, Fine overall. g100716111017 Reduced! $95
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1755q. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1755q. Crude strike, off-center cross, toned VG, interesting shape. g010907473014 $85
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1760V-(Y). Potosí, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1760V-(Y). Nearly full cross and pillars, typically chunky, VF with spots of blue and black encrustation. g050804191049 $90
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1768V-Y. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 2 reales, 1768V-Y. High grade (XF) but very crude flan, 2 dates, lightly toned. g110903025041 $90
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1653E. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1653E. Bold date and king's ordinal IIII in legend due to poor centering, second date below cross, nicely toned AVF. g010706849068 $70

      Back to top
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1663E, full date in legend. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1663E, full date in legend. Thin flan with 2 full pillars-side dates (rare with 1663 in legend), full waves, most of cross but much flatness, VG for grade. g110903025046 $55
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1676E, 2 dates. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1676E, 2 dates. Two dates, high grade (AXF) but crude, full cross and pillars (some flat spots), spotty toning. g110904191015 $60
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1679C. Nearly full cross, off-center pillars, 1˝ dates, 2 assayers, thick-flan Fine with some crude spots, scarce as non-salvage. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1679C. Nearly full cross, off-center pillars, 1˝ dates, 2 assayers, thick-flan Fine with some crude spots, scarce as non-salvage. g080916161006 $75
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1685VR. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1685VR. Good full cross (slightly off-center), bold date and assayer, nicely toned AVF, but lightly shaved (2.7 grams). g070818151030 $65
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1712Y. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1712Y. Scarce, clear date but otherwise crude, AVF with peripheral flatness, lightly toned. g090807367004 $60
Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1713Y, rare date. Potosí, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1713Y, rare date. Full pillars and cross with clear main date, unusually good quality for the issue, typically crude edge, Fine with spotty toning. g080916022036 $95
Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1752q. Potosi, Bolivia, cob 1 real, 1752q. Typically chunky, bold full date and cross, deeply toned Fine. g110903025064 $55

      Back to top
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1687. Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1687. Bold date but not much else (flat), toned Fine overall. g070818151047 $50
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1695. Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1695. Bold date, nearly full monogram and cross, darkly toned VF. g110903025043 $55
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1756. Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1756. Nearly full date and monogram and cross on very oddly shaped flan, lightly toned VF. g030907505044 $50
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1758. Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1758. Good cross, most of monogram above date, typically crude, AVF. g030907505045 $50
Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1767, rare. Potosí, Bolivia, cob ˝ real, 1767, rare. Bold but off-center date (usually off the flan), most of cross, lightly porous Fine. g030907505047 $55

      Back to top

 

Buy The Practical Book of Cobs

 

 

Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC

P.O. BOX 1964 | Winter Park, Florida 32790

Phone: 407.975.3325  |  Fax: 407.975.3327

 

We welcome your order, want lists, comments, material for sale or consignment and suggestions.

Please send email to: office@sedwickcoins.com 

We Accept Visa and Mastercard