The mounted coins are genuine shipwreck Spanish "Cobs", which were hand struck by Indian slaves during Spanish occupation of the New World.

The cobs shown in our Gallery are "Reales" and the mountings are 14k Yellow Gold. Many others will be available for purchase from time to time and each one will not only be unique as a coin, but also a "One of a Kind" Pendant.

Custom mountings can be requested if you have an idea for one. Contact us and we will be glad to discuss it with you.

What is a "Cob"?

The word "cob" is the simplification of the Spanish phrase, "Cabo de Barra", which means "made from the end of a bar". The bar in this case is 92% to 98% silver or gold, which was poured into thin strips. The strips were beaten flat and then cut into coin planchets. These planchets were put one at a time on to a bottom die. Another die held by hand on top of the planchet was then struck with a hammer. The planchet was now impressed on both sides with the coin design. The planchet was then trimmed off on corners to bring it to the standard weight. This process of hand striking and cutting to weight means that no two coins look alike. Also much of the design, legend, and dates were missing because of being hand struck, and by slaves who really didn't care anyway.

The design of each coin was fairly standard: the Jerusalem or Crusader's Cross on the reverse side of the coin and the Great Shield of Hapsburg on the obverse side. These Shield and Cross coins were struck in the Spanish colonies during the reigns of Philip II, Philip III, Philip IV and Charles II. This cob design was in existence for close to 100 years. During this time hundreds and hundreds of Spanish Galleons sailed in fleets from the New World to Spain, carrying millions of cobs struck in gold and silver, unknown tons of gold and silver bullion, emeralds, and other precious gems. All headed for the King of Spain. Also at this time many hundreds of these "Treasure Galleons" were sunk, or driven ashore by Hurricanes, or captured by Dutch and English Privateers, or Pirates.

The cobs off these salvaged wrecks were minted in both silver and gold. Silver cobs, also called "Reales", were struck in denominations of eight, four, two, one, one half, and even one quarter "Reales". Gold cobs were measured in "Escudos", and struck in denominations of eight, four, two, and one "Escudo" only. It took two "Pieces of Eight" "Reales" to equal one "Escudo", hence the ratio of 16 to 1, silver to gold. A two "Escudo" coin was also known as a "Doubloon", the term of doubling a one "Escudo".