1665, Spain, Philip IV. Beautiful Silver Piece of 8 Reales Cob Coin. VF+

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1665, Spain, Philip IV. Beautiful Silver Piece of 8 Reales Cob Coin. VF+:
$183.00

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1665, Spain, Philip IV. Beautiful Silver Piece of 8 Reales Cob Coin. VF+

Reference: KM-80.
Mint Place: Seville
Mint Period: 1622-1665
Denomination: Cob Piece of 8 Reales
Condition: A typical crude specimen, struck on a broad planchet, without mint or assayer letters visible, otherwise VF+
Diameter: 40mm
Material: Silver
Weight: 26.8gm

Obverse: Coat of Arms of the spanish line of the House Habsburg.

Reverse: Cross of Jerusalem with lions and castles in quarters.For your consideration a beautiful full-weight silver 8 reales cob coin (also known a s a piece of eight), struck at the seville mint (judging by the style of the lions) under Philip IV of Spain between 1622 and 1665. A very nice, broadly struck specimen and a 100% authentic cob coin!

The first coinage of the New World and what comesto mind when we think of Pirate Treasure are pieces of eight. Thesefirst coins, often called cob coins, were made from roughly cutplanchets (blanks) by striking them with hand dies. The word Cobb comesfrom a simplification of the Spanish phrase, Cabo de Barra, whichtranslates as, from a bar. After the coins are struck, they are weighedby an assayer who cuts off any excess Silver which is why most coinshave some of the impression cut away. Due to this method of manufacturerno two coins are alike and many are collected for their unique shapesalone. The Cobb coin, like anything that is no longer available isbecoming very scarce and hence more valuable. The few remaining Coinsare the last vintage of the glory days of pirates and Treasure huntingand are fast disappearing into private hands.

Authenticity unconditionally guaranteed. offerwith confidence!

Philip IV (Felipe IV, (8 April 1605 â€“ 17September 1665) was King of Spain between 1621 and 1665, sovereign ofthe Spanish Netherlands, and King of Portugal until 1640. On the eve ofhis death in 1665, the Spanish empire reached its historical zenithspanning almost 3 billion acres.

Philip IV was born in Valladolid, and was the eldestson of Philip III and his wife Margaret of Austria.

Philip IV\'s reign, after a few years of inconclusivesuccesses, was characterized by political and military decay andadversity. He has been held responsible for the decline of Spain, whichwas mostly due, however, to organic causes largely beyond the control ofany one ruler. Philip certainly possessed more energy, both mental andphysical, than his diffident father. His handwritten translation ofFrancesco Guicciardini\'s texts on political history still exists, and hewas a fine horseman and keen hunter.

His artistic taste is shown by his patronage of hiscourt painter Diego VelÃ¡zquez; his love of letters by his favoring Lopede Vega, Pedro CalderÃ³n de la Barca, and other immortal dramatists. Heis credited, on fairly probable testimony, with a share in thecomposition of several comedies. He also commenced the building of the BuenRetiro palace in Madrid, parts of which still remain near thePrado.

His good intentions were no avail to governance,however. Feeling himself not yet qualified to rule when he ascended tothe throne at age 16, he allowed himself to be guided by the mostcapable men he could find. His favourite, Olivares, was a far morehonest and capable man than his predecessor the Duke of Lerma, andbetter fitted for the office of chief minister than any Spaniard of thetime, perhaps. Philip, however, lacked the confidence to free himselffrom Olivares\'s influence once he did come of age. With Olivares\'sencouragement, he rather busied himself with frivolous amusements.

In December 1st, 1640, a uprising took place inLisbon expelling King Philip IV of Spain (Philip III of Portugal) fromthe Portuguese throne, giving it to the Braganzas. This was the end of60 years of the Iberian Union and the beginning of the PortugueseRestoration War (lost by the Habsburgs).

By 1643, when disasters falling on all sides led tothe dismissal of the all-powerful minister, Philip had largely lost thepower to devote himself to hard work. After a brief struggle with thetask of directing the administration of the most extensive andworst-organized multi-national state in Europe, he sank back intoindolence and let other favourites govern.

His political opinions were those he had inheritedfrom his father and grandfather. He thought it his duty to support theHouse of Habsburg and the cause of the Roman Catholic Church against theProtestants, to assert his sovereignty over the Dutch, and to extendthe dominions of his family. The utter exhaustion of his people in thecourse of perpetual war, against the Netherlands, France, Portugal,Protestant forces in the Holy Roman Empire and Great Britain, was seenby him with sympathy but he considered it an unavoidable misfortune,since he could not have been expected to renounce his legitimate rights,or to desert what he viewed as the cause of God, the Church and theHouse of Habsburg.

He was idealised by his contemporaries as the modelof Baroque kingship. Outwardly he maintained a bearing of rigidsolemnity, and was seen to laugh only three times in the course of hisentire public life. But, in private, his court was grossly corrupt.Victorian historians prudishly attributed the early death of his eldestson, Baltasar Carlos, to debauchery, encouraged by the gentlemenentrusted by the king with his education. This shocked the king, but itseffect soon wore off. Philip IV died broken-hearted in 1665, expressingthe pious hope that his surviving son, Carlos, would be more fortunatethan himself. On his death, a catafalque was built in Rome tocommemorate his life.

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