Getting Started in Gold Cobs. Part I: Essential Books (updated July 2008)
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I’m often asked these days about the library a collector of Fleet gold and gold cobs generally should try to assemble. I’m going to surprise some of you and recommend a short list, divided into essential and recommended books.

Some of the books below are denomination and mint specific. Many collectors decide from the beginning to focus on a specific denomination like 8 escudos or onzas and/or  on a particular Spanish Colonial mint like Mexico City or Lima.  I like the idea of concentrating on one mint, especially if you have to work on a budget, but I'm not as fond of the strategy of doing just one denomination. I'll explain why in a later chapter. I understand the attraction the big onzas have for many people, "onzamania" I call it, but it is a one-sided and very expensive orientation when everybody is chasing the same coins. Two escudos in particular are very interesting and attractive coinage that collectors should consider. No one has yet done the definitive two escudos collection for Mexico or Lima.

I believe all of the books listed below are in print or at least available through me or other booksellers.

A. The essential books

Alan Craig’s SPANISH COLONIAL GOLD COINS IN THE FLORIDA COLLECTION (2000). This is a study with excellent photography of the 1500 gold cobs in the Florida State Collection. These coins were acquired in the annual divisions held with salvors since 1963. Florida has picked the best and rarest coins, especially Limas. The photos show you the kind of coins you should to aspire to!  94 pages plus color plates. A new copy should cost about $55.

Calico’s LA ONZA (2004). This big book is the bible of the advanced and serious collector of eight escudos, also known as onzas. Every known Spanish and Spanish Colonial issue, cob and milled, from Philip II to Ferdinand VII is catalogued and photographed (B&W). I wish I could persuade Calico to do a companion volume for the minors! 460 pages. In Spanish but readable with an elementary vocabulary. A new copy will cost $150-175. NEW COPIES FROM ME AT $175  plus post

If LA ONZA is too much for your budget, then Calico is also keeping in print:

Calico’s THE ONZA MAIN BOOK (1986). This is an excellent shorter guide, in Spanish & English, to all the types of cob and milled Spanish and Spanish Colonial onzas. Superseded by LA ONZA if you want encyclopedic coverage, but very useful for studying the series. 222 pages. A new copy should cost about $65.

Calico and Trigo’s NUMISMATICA ESPANOLA, CATALOGO DE TODAS LAS MONEDAS …1474 a 1994. 8th edition.(1994) or 9th edition. This is the standard reference work for all denominations of Spanish & Spanish Colonial coins from Ferdinand & Isabella to the late 20th century. A good number of B&W photos illustrate each type of issue. 727 pages. A lightly used copy should be $55-60.

Cayon & Cayon LAS MONEDAS ESPANOLAS DEL TREMIS AL DURO DEL 411 A NUESTRAS DIA (2005). As an alternative to the previous reference work, you may choose this big 1500 page set from Cayon. It covers Mediaeval Spain as well as Modern issues. The list price from Cayon is 70 euros plus expensive postage.

Lasser & Restrepo THE COB COINAGE OF COLOMBIA (2000). If you are interested in gold cobs from Bogota and Cartagena, you must own this book, based on Joe Lasser’s remarkable collection, now dispersed at auction. ( The two sales of the Lasser Collection were by Ponterio in January of 2005 and 2006. Those catalogues are worth having.) I know there is new book by Restrepo incorporating much of this book, but get the 2000 Lasser version. 150 pages. Decent B&W photos. A new copy should cost $50.



B. Recommended Books

Frank & Dan Sedwick THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO COBS, 4th edition (2007). Frank Sedwick was a good friend, and it is a pleasure to see his son Dan bringing this excellent introduction to cobs and treasure coins back into print with a new and much expanded edition. 253 pages. A new copy costs $25.

Sewall Menzel COBS, PIECES OF EIGHT, AND TREASURE COINS (2002) This ANS publication remains the only comprehensive study of Spanish Colonial gold and silver cobs. 484 pages. A new copy should cost you $125-150.

L. Lopez-Chavez y Sanchez CATALOGO DE LA ONZA ESPANOLA (1961) I’m recommending this 47 year old monograph on the onza, together with its companion studies of the two and four escudos, for several reasons. Lopez-Chavez and his associate Yriarte completed their work on gold cobs just before the 1715 Fleet material started to appear. If you want to know whether an issue was known before the Fleet, this is the place to look. 167 pages, color images/photos, in Spanish and English. A used copy of this book should cost about $50.

L. Lopez-Chavez y Sanchez CATALOGO DEL DOBLON DE A DOS ESCUDOS (1962). The only modern study of the two escudos. See my comments on the eight escudos volume. About 120 pages, color images/photos, in Spanish and English. A used copy of this book should cost about $50.

L. Lopez-Chavez y Sanchez CATALOGO DE LA MEDIA ONZA O DOBLON DE LA CUATRO (1962) The only modern study on the four escudos. See my comments on the eight escudos volume. 132 pages, color images/photos, in Spanish and English. A used copy of this book should cost about $50.

L. Lopez-Chavez y Sanchez CATALOGO GENERAL DE LA ONZA (1968) This was Lopez-Chavez’s attempt to update his earlier onza book in light of the 1715 Fleet discoveries. As a study of the onza, it is of course eclipsed by the Calico volumes, but it is interesting as a time capsule of the onza marketplace in the late 60’s. About 85 pages, color images/photos, in Spanish and English. A used copy of this book should cost about $40.