Early 1600s Rare Philip III 8 Reales Cob – Assayer B | Rare “X” Border

An outstanding and unusually distinctive early 17th-century Spanish 8 Reales silver cob, struck during the reign of Philip III of Spain, featuring the desirable Assayer B attribution and a rare decorative “X” style border.

This large hand-struck silver coin is an example of the legendary Spanish “Piece of Eight,” one of the most recognizable and historically significant forms of money from the age of exploration and treasure fleets.

The coin displays the classic imagery of Spanish cob coinage, including the quartered cross with the castles of Castile and lions of León and the crowned Habsburg shield representing the vast territories of the Spanish monarchy.

Of particular interest is the coin's unusual X-pattern border, a distinctive stylistic feature that separates this example from more commonly encountered 8 Reales cobs of the period. The Assayer B attribution adds further numismatic interest.

Each cob was individually produced by hand, meaning no two examples were exactly alike. The irregular flan, hammer strike, and surviving design elements give this coin the unmistakable character of early Spanish colonial silver.

A particularly impressive early Piece of Eight, combining a desirable Assayer B attribution with an unusual X-pattern border and more than 400 years of history.