Spanish Real, Philip V AD 1708

Philip V was King of Spain from November 1, 1700 to his abdication in favor of his son Louis on January 14, 1724, and from his re-accession to the throne upon his son's death on September 6, 1724 to his own death on July 9, 1746. He occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a grandson of King Louis XIV. His granduncle, King Charles II of Spain, named Philip as his heir in his will. Philip's accession to the throne in Spain provoked the 13-year war of the Spanish Succession, which continued until the Treaty of Utrecht forbade any future possibility of unifying the French and Spanish thrones. Philip was the first member of the French House of Bourbon to rule as king of Spain. The sum of his two reigns, 45 years and 21 days, is the longest in modern Spanish history.

The real was a unit of currency in Spain and its colonies for several centuries. When additional silver deposits were discovered in the colonial territories there was a pressing demand to export it to Spain as quickly as possible. To do this, starting in the reign of Philip II, the mints produced irregular coinage called cobs. A bar of silver was simply cut into chunks of the appropriate weight. The intention in minting these crude but accurately weighed cobs was to produce an easily portable product that could be sent to Spain. In Spain, the cobs would be melted down to produce silver jewelry, coins, bars and other items. Each coin has a unique shape and is a one-of-a-kind piece of history.

Because these coins were exposed to ocean debris and marine elements during their time underwater, they require special care to maintain their luster and preserve their appearance.

• Avoid applying perfumes, creams, oils, or makeup directly onto the piece.
• Do not expose it to moisture or corrosive substances.
• Avoid contact with water or the skin's natural sweat and acidity, as this can dull or tarnish the material.
• Due to their antiquity, these pieces are more sensitive to chemicals, which may alter their color.
• To clean the piece, use mild soapy water and gently dry it with a soft, neutral-colored cloth to remove oils and residues that could tarnish it or affect its shine.
• Store the piece in its protective leather pouch.