Struck at the Mexico City Mint during the reign of King Philip V of Spain, this hand-hammered silver cob was produced in the final decades before the transition to the famous milled “Pillar Dollar” coinage.
Coin Highlights:
- Country: Spanish Colonial Mexico
- Mint: Mexico City (Mo)
- Date: 1731
- Assayer: F
- Denomination: 2 Reales
- Grade: PCGS F12
- Reference: Calico-799
- Composition: Silver (.917 Fine)
- Weight: 6.68 Grams
- Actual Silver Weight: 0.1968 Troy Oz
- Certification: PCGS Secure
- Obverse: Crowned Habsburg-Bourbon shield with portions of the royal arms visible.
- Reverse: Jerusalem cross with castles and lions representing the kingdoms of Spain.
- Type: Hand-Hammered Cob Coinage
Historical Significance:
Spanish cobs served as the backbone of global commerce during the Age of Exploration. Produced from silver mined in the New World, these coins circulated throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Each cob was individually struck by hand, resulting in unique shapes and distinctive appearances that are highly prized by collectors today.
The Mexico City Mint was the first mint established in the Americas and became one of the most important producers of Spanish colonial silver. Coins like this 2 Reales circulated alongside larger 8 Reales pieces and were widely used in everyday commerce across the Spanish Empire.
Collectibility:
Early Mexico City cobs remain highly collectible due to their historical importance, hand-struck manufacture, and direct connection to colonial trade. Certified examples with clear mint and assayer attribution are increasingly sought after by collectors of Spanish colonial, shipwreck, and world silver coinage.
