Diagnostic Controls & Presets Pirate Shipwreck Silver
Diagnostic Forensic Readings
Forensic Attribution Diagnostic
Real-time metallurgical and die variety cross-examination verified against certified populations.
Technical Breakdown: Physics, Metallurgy & Die Diagnostics
Struck from silver mined at Bolivia's Cerro Rico mountain, the richest silver deposit in human history.
King Philip IV ordered corrupt mint masters executed and mandated the two-digit year and assayer initials to appear twice.
Documented Benchmark Auction Records
Recovered by Mel Fisher's crew from the Marquesas Keys; sharp full cross, bold assayer T, zero corrosion.
Phenomenal perfectly round planchet struck for royalty, complete peripheral legend and Pillars of Hercules.
Pewter replica with artificial black chemical patination and cast mold line along the edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Spanish Colonial Silver 'Cob'?
A 'cob' (known in Spanish as a 'cabo de barra' or 'macuquina') was a crude, hand-hammered silver coin produced in Spanish American mints (Potosí, Lima, Mexico City, Bogota) between 1572 and 1773. Silver bars were sliced into rough chunks, trimmed with shears to legal weight, and struck between hand dies.
Why were cobs made with such crude, irregular shapes?
Speed and volume! The Spanish Crown needed vast quantities of silver shipped to Spain as quickly as possible. The priority was exact weight and silver purity rather than roundness or artistic beauty. In Europe, many cobs were immediately melted down into round European crowns.
What is the history of the Potosí Mint and Cerro Rico?
Established in 1572 in high-altitude Bolivia (over 13,000 feet above sea level), the Potosí Mint sat at the foot of Cerro Rico ('Rich Hill'), a mountain of virtually solid silver ore. Potosí produced over 60% of the world's silver during the 16th and 17th centuries.
What was the Great Potosí Mint Scandal of 1649?
In the 1640s, Potosí mint workers and assayers secretly reduced the purity of the silver coins from the legal 93% down to 70-75%, pocketing the difference. When European merchants discovered the fraud, King Philip IV dispatched an inquisitor, executed the corrupt assayer and mayor, recalled the coins, and introduced the 'Pillars and Waves' design in 1652 with strict accountability.
What is the 1622 Nuestra Señora de Atocha shipwreck?
The Atocha was a heavily laden Spanish galleon that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in September 1622 carrying tons of silver ingots and cobs. In 1985, treasure salvor Mel Fisher discovered the mother lode after a 16-year search, bringing thousands of pristine silver cobs to light.
What is a 'Galano' or Royal Presentation Cob?
While regular cobs were crude and irregular, mint workers occasionally prepared special perfectly round, thick planchets struck on carefully centered dies for presentation to the King, Viceroy, or Church dignitaries. Known as 'Galano' or 'Royals', these coins are extraordinarily rare and sell for $30,000 to $100,000+.
How can you detect a fake shipwreck cob?
Authentic cobs were struck with heavy hammer blows, producing crisp die cracks, sharp high relief on the central design, and the genuine silver acoustic ping. Fake tourist replicas are cast from lead or pewter, featuring soft rounded details, mold seams along the edge, and porous surfaces.