Pirate Currency | Spanish Colonial "Cob" 2 Reales

Coin: Colonial Silver 2 Reales
Obverse: Cross
Reverse: Crowned arms of Castile and Leon.
Date: c. 16th - 17th Century
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  8.37 grams
Diameter: 22 mm

Description

This item is an authentic Spanish Colonial Silver 2 Reales coin, placed in a handmade bezel of 14 karat gold. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

History of the Artifact

The Spanish colonial 2 Reales coin was a widely circulated silver denomination during the height of Spain’s imperial dominance in the Americas, particularly from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Minted across the New World in colonial mints such as Mexico City, Lima, and Potosí, the 2 Reales was part of the broader Spanish silver coinage system that played a crucial role in global commerce. As a "piece of two," it was worth a quarter of the famous 8 Reales coin—often called the "piece of eight"—which functioned as the de facto international currency of its era. The 2 Reales was a convenient denomination for daily transactions, commonly used in both the colonies and Old World Spain alike.

Early issues of the 2 Reales were struck as irregularly shaped coins known as cobs. These were crudely cut from hand-hammered silver planchets and quickly struck with dies bearing the royal coat of arms on one side and a cross with lions and castles on the other, representing the unification of León and Castile. Despite their crude appearance, cobs were valued primarily for their silver content, not their visual elegance. They were minted in large quantities and often show signs of clipping or irregular flan edges, a common result of the rush to meet the demands of transatlantic commerce and royal tax obligations.

Because of its high purity and consistent weight, the Spanish 2 Reales coin—like its larger relatives—became trusted in trade not only in Spanish territories but also in British North America, where it circulated alongside British and French coinage. It was so prevalent in colonial America that its fractional value (two bits) influenced local pricing and slang for years.

Authenticity

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1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

Your order will include:

• Spanish 2 Reales Coin Pendant shown in photos
• Certificate of Authenticity

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