Fake Cobs: Alerts & Database

Note this is identical, except for the date, to 1635P above and 1657P #3 below, and this same planchet exists with contrived full dates 1634, 1637, 1649, 1655, 1656, and 1667

(piece shown here was originally offered from an eBay seller from Asia) Other sellers from other parts of the World might be offering the same piece as well.

(piece shown here was originally offered from an eBay seller from Asia) Other sellers from other parts of the World might be offering the same piece as well.

(piece shown here was originally offered from an eBay seller from Asia) Other sellers from other parts of the World might be offering the same piece as well.

(piece shown here was originally offered from an eBay seller from Asia) Other sellers from other parts of the World might be offering the same piece as well.

(piece shown here was originally offered from an eBay seller from Asia) Other sellers from other parts of the World might be offering the same piece as well.

Note this is identical, except for the date, to 1635P and 1647/6P above, and this same planchet exists with contrived full dates 1634, 1637, 1649, 1655, 1656, and 1667

This one has been offered several times by the same eBay seller, keywestdivers. it appears this coin was cast from Lázaro's specimen. In any case, the usual red flags are there (private auction, no returns), so no one should be bidding on it anyway, but so far the bids are in the thousands of dollars--well into the range in which someone must think it is genuine. *

Another Mexican cob 8R fake, this one actually fooled me till I saw it in person and noticed telltale tiny balls on the surface, otherwise (and especially from just a photo) it passes very easily for a nice "Rill Cove wreck" (ca. 1618) specimen with the edges corroded away

Another Mexican cob 8R fake.24.62 grams. This fake have been

Another Mexican cob 8R fake. 24.8 grams. Metal is usually silver and the patina looks authentic.

Another Mexican cob 8R fake.

Supposed to be from the 1715 Fleet (corroded, underweight, etc.) but I have seen at least two identical specimens

Supposed to be some sort of promotional done with a gift shop in South Florida, all the pieces here shown are cast fakes.

4 reales, Philip V, assayer not visible, framed. The other side pasted to its original certificate. With FAKE Cobb Coin Co. certificate #154127. (auctioned by us back in 2012. (transaction withdrawn/cancelled) Many fakes framed and glued casts still are being offered on eBay, be very careful.

Another one supposed to be from the 1715 Fleet, and seems to be a pretty good fake till you see its litter-mates (and they always seem to be mounted...) As a further note on this one, seller 2006edgec sold this coin as genuine even though he had been told (and shown) that it was fake, so you might want to avoid his offerings in the future. Other coins has been offered as "Treasure coins" all fakes as well.

Very sneaky cast, traces of lines on edge, 25.8 grams paired even with genuine cert, we have seen it only once.

The only way to tell is because we had two coins alike in our hands.

Note: this is a highly counterfeited type, but this particular fake is cropping up a lot these days and is identifiable by the four "plugged holes" in the corners, which are rendered simply as flat spots in the casting. Other type of 1733 fakes are also being offered on eBay ,(rectangular shape)

Another klippe but this one dated 1734.

Another klippe but good "fabric" with countermark and hole in different places, fooled some auction houses, probably seen 3-4 times.

There is also a proliferation of fake Mexican gold cobs touted as being from the 1715 fleet, 5 grams.

There is also a proliferation of fake Mexican gold cobs touted as being from the 1715 fleet.

There is also a proliferation of fake Mexican gold cobs touted as being from the 1715 fleet. 20 grams.

There is also a proliferation of fake Mexican gold cobs touted as being from the 1715 fleet.

reproduction made in 22k gold.

There is also a proliferation of fake Mexican gold cobs touted as being from the 1715 fleet. I have seen them offered individually, but here are some group shots (an 8-4-2-1 denomination set) from seller hobie1965, who refused to withdraw the sale even after being shown identical coins in other auctions

An old well known fake.

An old well known fake, 23,3 grams.

An old well known fake, 13,3 grams.

An old well known fake, 3,3 grams.

Over the past several years I have seen a particular brand of counterfeit coming out of Peru that is more fanciful than deceitful, as the designs are not like the genuine coins. This is a good example and following many more...

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Also seen with the shape of a heart.

This cob and the following two, on the other hand, are more dangerous (at least when buying from a photo) because they are cast from genuine examples

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Some other Potosí fakes to watch for are copies made from some pieces recovered from a wreck that sunk in the 1650s.

Note: this particular piece comes from a seller in China)

Note: this one comes from eBay seller "komakoma", whom many of my customers have asked me to watch, yet this is the first specimen of his that I have actually examined in person to be able to condemn it

Note: this one is an "official replica" made in Ecuador to commemorate the Capitana salvage

Apparently that was not the only "casted" cob from the Capitana salvage, there are a few more examples around, including countermarked "L" pieces.

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Note: another "komakoma" offering that is likely to crop up again

Sold at least twice by eBay seller "nammibob" despite notification. (Note we lack of scan for the reverse)

very common cast.

very well done cast probably in many collections. Weight is usually approx 26.55 grams

very common cast.

A classic! In addition, here is a fake that should be recognizable as such by anyone but a neophyte, yet it crops up as genuine on eBay all the time (most recently [September, 2006] by seller "vintage_comics_and_collectibles"

And a similar one, recently offered by "paulelaine2524," who had some other fake cobs for sale as well and refused to remove them.   (Note: This seller now goes by the name of "pgar299422" on eBay .)

Very dangerous fake using impact dies. At least 2 seen.

A very common cast fake that has been around for decades and is now cropping up on eBay

Note that this appears to be cast from a genuine coin that was offered on eBay in late 2005, but I know that that coin was genuine because I examined it in person

Note that the too-neat style of this coin typifies the fantasy pieces coming out of Peru in recent years

A very common cast fake that has been around for decades and is now cropping up on eBay

A very common cast fake that has been around for decades and is now cropping up on eBay

In 2005 the Perth Mint produced a 13 piece collection of replicas, including the coin illustrated here. This is an "official" reproduction. The Perth Mint is wholly owned by the government of Western Australia and is operated by Gold Corporation which was created under an Act of Parliament

You will find this coin everywhere, even in some coin shows, being offered as a "fleet" cob.

Yet another Chinese fake, this one for Lima!

This is fantasy very well done with the right weight, bought at a market in Peru.

This is a replica plated, made back in the late 70's, early 80's. (about half the real weight)

We have seen this mounted, wellmade high karat gold used. We have seen it 3-4 times. Always underweight.

This is a replica plated, made back in the late 70's, early 80's. (about half the real weight)

This is a replica plated, made back in the late 70's, early 80's.

This is a replica plated, made back in the late 70's, early 80's.

This is a replica made in gold.

This one was sold by seller "estatedoctor" along with many other bad cobs ("private auction"--usually a red flag!) even after I notified him that they were fake. Note also that several cast fakes of this date are known, including some copies marketed by Disney World at their Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop