Description
Spanish Empire, Viceroyalty of New Spain, Philip IV of the House of Habsburg, King of Spain 1621-1665 AD, Silver ‘Cob’ Eight Reales (22.23g, 41mm), 1652 P, Mexico City mint. Obverse: Shield of Arms of the Kingdom of Spain (1668-1700 version) surmounted by royal crown, mintmark “Mo” above assayer’s initial “P” to left, mark of value “8” to right, inner beaded border and legend ending with the date surrounds, “[PH]IL[LIPVS· IIII· DEI·G]· 1652·”. Reverse: Cross of Jerusalem central with arms terminating in fleur-de-lis, heraldic elements of the Kingdoms of Castile and León in each angle, all within double tressure of arches, inner beaded border and legend beginning with initial mark fleur-de-lis surrounds, “[HISPAN]IARVM· [ET· INDIARVM· REX·]”. KM-45. Presenting quintessentially ‘cob’ features yet with vital devices clear – the date, mark of value, mintmark and assayer’s initial all present and legible, a very collectible piece, and of the time period for the Gilt Dragon shipwreck although unconfirmed and with no certificate, details good Very Fine for type.
The obverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “Philippus Quartus, Deī Grātiā”, with an English translation of “Philip the fourth, by the Grace of God”. The obverse legend continues onto the reverse and reads “Hispāniarum et Indiarum rēx”, with an English translation of “King of Spain and the Indies”. It’s worth noting the correct Latin spelling of the genitive form of Hispānia and India is Hispāniae and Indiae.