Frequent visitors to this website know that we often feature and discuss Spanish silver coins (reales) that were recovered from the many wreck sites of the 1715 Fleet. They are also known as “pieces of eight” or “cobs”.
Where the term “cobs” originated is not clear but some believe that the term comes from the Spanish cabo de borra (“end of the bar”) because these coins were cut from bars of silver. Whatever the origin, the term stuck and today most collectors of Spanish reales from the 1715 Fleet refer to them simply as “cobs”.
We decided to have some fun with the term “cob” and put together a series of images featuring silver cobs.
See if you can find the hidden meaning behind each coin depicted in these photos. Let us know in the comments!
Good luck.
Ben Costello, Director
