Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: LON-A91FC3
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A post medieval silver 2-real 'cob' piece of Philip II-Philip IV of Spain (AD 1556-1665). The coin would have been minted in Lima, Peru or Potosi, Bolivia or Mexico.
Obverse: Crowned shield bearing the arms of Spain and its territories.
Reverse: Cross within octofoil, lion rampant and castle in alternate quarters, Arms of Castile and Leon.
Similar real 'cobs' on the database are LON-D58C14, IOW-FD60C6 , HAMP-EEB4C6 and LANCUM-E9CE14.
Dimensions: length: 18.75mm; width: 17.86mm; weight: 2.23g.
In the mid-16th century major silver deposits were found in South America, in an area known as 'Peru', but this relates to an area much larger than modern-day Peru. Coins minted from here were called 'cobs' or cabo, and rather than producing a nice flan onto which the image was struck, cobs were simply a bar of silver cut into appropriate weights (1, 2, 4, 8 reales) so they are not standard shapes. This coin was most likely minted in Peru, Bolivia or Mexico due to its irregular shape.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1556
Date to: Circa AD 1665
Quantity: 1
Length: 18.75 mm
Width: 17.86 mm
Weight: 2.23 g
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Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Ruler/issuer: Phillip III of Spain
Obverse description: Crowned shield bearing the arms of Spain and its territories.
Reverse description: Cross within octofoil, lion rampant and castle in alternate quarters, Arms of Castile and Leon.
No coin references available.
4 Figure: TQ3679
Four figure Latitude: 51.49359401
Four figure longitude: -0.04234424
1:25K map: TQ3679
1:10K map: TQ37NE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.