TUNISIA. Tunisia - Mexico. Cob 8 Reales, ND (c.1630-80). Ottoman Empire. PCGS GOOD-06 Gold Shield; Countermark: VF Details.16.17 gms. Wilski-Tun 203 (plate coin). Arabic script countermark "Sarf (year) corect size and weight" within solid square boarder within beaded boarder applied to the reverse of a significantly cut down (in modern times) Mexico 8 Reales probably of Philip IV. Countermark slightly uneven obscuring the date of the countermark. Otherwise a lightly toned and attractive issue with less than a dozen different examples known for all denominations. A strongVERY /strongstrongRARE/strong and very interesting issue showing the vast distance that Mexican coinage traveled. The attribution to Tunisia is based on a hoard of about 1000 cob 4 Reales found in a remote village in Tunisia where 3 examples were countermarked and that the countermarks themselves, with one exception, Wilski-Tun 206, are the same shape and dimensions as the contemporary Nasri (square akches). The place of discovery and similarity to the Tunisian Nasri strongly suggest Tunisia as the place of countermarking. From the Kyle Ponterio Collection.Ex: Hans Wilski Collection.
