Spain: "New World Pirate Era Bronze Nummis c.1400-1600 AD" [sic], in INB holder

This was a cheap coin shop pickup. It is in an "International Numismatic Bureau" holder. I believe they were (or are) one of those slightly shady boiler-room outfits which sold (maybe still sell) overgraded coins in their own self-made slabs, and they also mass-marketed cheap historic coins like this to the general public, playing up the more colorful aspects like the "pirate era" angle here.

Some of the deposits from the coin left a residue on the inside of the plastic holder, since it rattles around loosely in there. In any event, the holder is not sealed and can be easily opened. Really, it's trash, but I've kept it on the off chance the next owner wants it.

Let's unpack the description on that label a bit. Now mind you, I only have my suspicions- since I do not personally know the exact attribution on this piece, I'm merely left with hunches. Maybe some of you can assist.

I will say that I do not doubt the coin's authenticity. But... the rest? Well...

SPAIN. OK, I am pretty certain they got that part right. We've got the lion and castle there.
NEW WORLD. I'm not so sure about that. I think maybe this could be from homeland Spain rather than a New World mint?
PIRATE ERA. That's a rather nebulous and meaningless phrase, but OK, sure. There was pirate activity in the era this coin circulated. Just as there has been since the dawn of history. But yeah, sure, they were really active in the Atlantic during those centuries.
BRONZE. I think it's more likely copper than bronze, but maybe they're right. I don't know.
NUMMIS [sic]. This is just a generic Latin term for "coin". I'm more used to seeing it spelled "nummus", with no "i", but then again, it is the root word for "numismatics", so that may be where the "i" crept in. Their variant spelling might be OK. But more specifically, I am pretty sure this coin is one of the maravedis denominations. 2-maravedis? 4-? I don't know. (Update: it's a 4-maravedis piece. note that "IIII" to the right of the castle, which I had missed.)
c. 1400-1600 AD. They could be right- there are some 1500s maravedis which look like this. But to me it looks later. Like 1600s. Not the year 1600 specifically, but from the 1600s in general. So maybe a bit later than the date range they indicate?
HIGH GRADE. Meh. Whatever. It does have pretty good detail, evidence of cleaning (it likely came from a bulk hoard), and some chalky greenish deposits on it. It isn't awful. "High grade" is another rather nebulous term.
















​

Source : https://www.cointalk.com/threads/i-suspe...

Collection : Sold Items