”Blackbirds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
The REAL Cob
Cleverly hidden among the last Christmas order through the Nyssacat373’s coin order processing center was this fine little Bolivian Cob. Since I am not finely acquainted with Colonial Coinage, nor have other varying 1 Real cobs to make side by side comparisons, I must trust the person who placed this into this cardboard flip that this is identified as Bolivia rather than Mexico, Quito, etc.
Thus, my first Cob of this era of coinage. The type seen by held, stolen, robbed, buried, or squandered by Pirates and Privateers mere decades earlier in the Golden age of Pirates.
It wasn’t until four years later in 1773 that the Milled 1 Real coin version was minted in the Potosi Mint via a screw press by squeezing a pre-determined amount of silver between two dies.
Until then, the cobs were still Hammer struck as in the previous 200+ years.
I added the Mexican 1782 1 Real for comparison.
The Cob form of coinage is not much to look at. Crudely made, wickedly difficult to distinguish from other Cob varieties, mints, and dates without years of experience in this field of coinage in filtering out the years of wear in addition to the quality of minting. I think the original Mint Master had a few identifiable criteria to meet before allowing the coin to go into circulation, legibility of the date, identifies the king, and most elements of the Colonial Arms.
It’s exciting to have a piece of economic history. This piece may have not passed through the hands of a famous Privateer, but it has gone through plenty of hands both commerce and collectors since.
From Real to Fantasy
Now where were these pirate money beauties when I was just an 8-9 year old pirate princess? Likely eating my share of gold foil chocolate coin booty and playing with my father’s Morgan, Peace and Voyager silver Dollars. Accidentally smearing some chocolate on the coins.
I cringe when remember it. There are still a little bit of chocolate stains on the cardboard flips.
Onward!
R.P.M. stands for RIOS PRECIOUS METALS LTD, a Silver artist out of the United Kingdom. The Rios Revenge round is a limited edition run but I am currently uncertain of the actual mintage. While this trademark ship appears on a number of RIOS creations the ship simply dominates this side of the round then toned for contrast.
Meanwhile, the other side is a delightfully chaotic cacophony of standard pirate themed stamps.
It’s as if The Revenge’s crew walked into Tortuga’s, Port Royal’s or Nassau’s Chinatown district to do some business and the rounds got bloody chop marked for it. I do like the Chop marking on my Trade Dollars, but I got the drift of this pirate pun whether intentional or not.
I LOVE IT! ❤️
The RPM Treasure Round
This version of Pirate round seemed to be a reverse to the Rios Revenge but a more eclectic choice of pirate ‘Chop marks’. I’m compelled to interpret that our silver artist is supportive of Cannabis use (Cannabis leaf mark). He or she is Irish (Pot of gold). And the money bag means, “We’re Rich! Maybe.”
Are these silver rounds worth investing in?
To the pure Stacker who Stacks by weight this may not cost effective enough to get a return above the premium well above the Spot price even though the Artist makes these more out of passion than profit. Unless the spot price skyrockets.
To me, it would be worth it adding to my Fantasy Pirate money collection. I regard it as the FUN Premium IF I purchased these.
Thanks for the pirate pun and these wonderful rounds, Nyssacat373! 💋
Adding another Silver in my Piratesunday style stack.
Always adding Silver and Crypto to my Stack for that rainy day or dark and stormy night!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh… welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!
References
Sources
Wiki: National Mint of Bolivia
1769 Bolivia Carlos III 1 Real
Instagram: Rios.Precious.metalsltd RPM
RPM ½ Troy Oz. Treasure Round
“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin.”
