Morgan and Vanessa R. write: We have recently acquired an eight reales silver cob. It also has the words “peso bout barre d’argent” on the front. There is no bust on this coin but a crest on the reverse side with a cross in the middle. We cannot find a date on this coin. And it isn’t quite round. It seems to be hand-minted. We would welcome any information about our treasure. Sincerely, M & V R.
You don’t have a eight reales silver cob. You have some kind of (probably modern) replica that as the French you quote above translates as, “peso made from the end of a bar of silver”.
That is exactly how the original cobs were made. The Mexico Mint recently made a similar replica of an 8 Reales silver cob in the style of the silver coins of the Atocha. The source of the silver was from actual silver bars found on that wreck.
