In the 1520’s, the Spanish Crown began to realize, through expanded explorations of the likes of Hernando Cortez and Francisco Pizarro, that it was in charge of an enormous empire requiring extensive settlement and systems of control. Royal mints were founded to control, evaluate, and tax gold and silver coming from the mines, as well to produce the coins needed for everyday commercial transactions. For some 250 years, the mints churned out millions of cob-style coins, many of which found their way into the treasure galleons of the day. Soon, mints, such as Mexico and Potosi became known as the financial pillars of the empire, and enabled Spain to engage in seemingly endless wars of conquest and plunder. Geography, crown intransigence, bureaucratic incompetence, royal intrigues, and outright scandal all had an impact on the mints and their productions.

Dr. Sewall Menzel has made a comprehensive and fully referenced study of  the Spanish mints of Mexico, Santo Domingo, Peru, Potosi, Panama, Santa Fe de Nuevo Reino (Bogota), Cartagena, Cuzco, Guatemala, and CUBA (1741), and their respective coinages. Through the use of some two thousand photos and diagrams, the coins are identified by mint, king, denomination, mint assayer, and type.

His work has resulted in a 496 page hardback book, yet to be published. Advance orders are taken by the David Brown Book Company. The email address is david.brown.bk.co@snet.net and the telephone number is 860 9459329 or 800 7919354.. The book is reference number ISBN 0897222849, and is priced at $125.