Please Help Big Silver Medieval Coin

[Tanit]

Hi

Diameter: 35.8 - 41.1 mm

Weight : 26.6 g

Thank you for your help

[lazooro]

Spanish struck in America..cob coins..not good in this but few weeks ago one similar was posted.

[commodus]

Correct. I will add that it is 8 reales, probably struck in Bolivia, and would date to circa 1600-1630

[Tanit]

This coin was found in Tunisia not in Bolivia !! 

[commodus]

They were minted in South and Central America but travelled all over the world. Few circulated in the Americas compared to the vast quantities which were shipped back to Spain to enrich the royal coffers. The Spanish real was one of the first international currencies and these were esteemed in the Arab world because of the purity of the silver they contain. Many found their way the short distance from Spain to North Africa, both in trade and as the result of seizures by pirates operating from the Barbary coast.

[Howard Cole]

Looking at the cross, I am fairly certain this coin was struck in Mexico City.  There coins always have the balls at the ends of the cross bars.

[Tanit]

Thanks to you all.
Is there a link which shows similar coins?

[commodus]

It might have been. This is typical of Mexico but not necessarily unique to it. Lacking the Mexico City mintmark, which does appear on many cobs, it is difficult to say for certain. I am willing to bet that the silver in it came from Potosi in Bolivia, either way. In any case, it is definitely Spanish colonial, circa 1600-ish.

[Merinda]

To me it does seem to have a Mexico City mintmark, to the left of the shield, O above M; the D below the M is the assayer; D is known for Mexico around this time - but not for Bolivia (Potosi)

[commodus]

It may be a variant. This is not the typical Mexico City mintmark for the era. Much of the silver came from Potosi regardless of the location of mintage. Regardless, the fact remains that it is a Spanish colonial silver 8 real cob from the New World.