THIS COIN, CALLED COB, WERE MADE FROM SLABS OF SILVER. WHICH WERE ROLLED INTO
ELONGATED SHAPES OF VARIOUS THICKNESSES SLICES WERE MADE BY METAL SHEARS OR
CHISELED BY HAND TO ACHIEVE THE PROPER WEIGHT.
THIS PROCESS ACCOUNTS FOR THE IRREGULAR EDGES. THE BLANKS WERE HEATED AND ANNEALED,
THEN HAMMERED BETWEEN CRUDELY
ENGRAVED DIES. THE COINS WERE MINTED IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN COLONIES MADE WITH
POOR WORKMANSHIP AND WITHOUT PROPER
EQUIPMENT OR SUPERVISION. OFTEN THE COINS WERE STRUCK BY INDIAN OR SLAVE LABOR.
THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES WERE UNCONCERNED WITH THE SHAPE OF THE COIN ONLY WITH THE
FINENESS AND WEIGHT, WHICH WAS
GUARANTEED BY THE ASSAYERS MARK.