Numismatic

Spanish Colonial Silver Cobs One Real (Shipwreck Effect)

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This silver Spanish Colonial cob, carrying a face value of one Real, offers a direct connection to the age of maritime trade and lost treasure. Minted in the high-altitude city of Potosi, Bolivia, this specific piece was lost to the sea when its transport vessel sank off the Ecuadorian coast in 1681. Having spent centuries submerged, the silver surface displays a distinct texture and corrosion characteristic of objects recovered from deep-sea shipwrecks. The hand-struck design on the obverse displays the classic pillars and waves motif, which serves to divide the coin's denomination and its year of manufacture. On the reverse, the Spanish coat of arms is clearly visible, split by a Maltese cross. Struck from 0.903 fine silver with a metal weight of 0.0650 troy ounces, each of these hand-hammered cobs carries a unique shape and finish, bearing the physical scars of its long underwater slumber.