1611 Spanish 2-Escudo "Doubloon" Gold Cob Coin,
A coin of Spanish King Phillippe the Second’s reign.
 
This is a historically important artifact as well as being one that conjures romantic images of Spanish galleons laden with treasure, with pirates in hot pursuit.
 
The gold Escudo was a coin of the Spanish Empire, minted by hand in various mints in both the New World and Spain.
 
In this period, it was illegal to own gold or silver that had not been minted, so mints figured rather prominently in the New World, and in this period and the century after up to eleven Spanish mints were operating from Mexico to Peru.
 
Coins with this irregular shape are called cobs.  They were all handmade. Manufacturing coins by machine was still a long ways off and for this reason; they did look a little crude.  The gold was proportioned out by weight, hammered flat and then stamped both sides with the cross and coat of arms.
 
This particular Escudo was hand minted in 1611 under the reign of Phillip the second and interestingly has the assayers mark H on it.
 
It is both an investment, a curiosity and easily transformed into a wonderful piece of jewelry.
I find great wonder in just looking at it and imagining all the hands it has been through and things that it may have been used to purchase in the last four hundred years.
 
I have a close friend who has a beautiful ring made from an Escudo or you could commission a pendant and keep it close to your heart.
 
Failing that, perhaps you can just keep it in a place where you can hold it in the palm of your hand, close your eyes and use it to travel through time.
 
 
Cheers,
 
David Charles Grainger