I do apologise for the size and amount of photos in this post, i have to say when i first switched on the lights i was quite set back how different it made the inside look i often sit down at night in the lounge with just a table lamp on so i also decided to place it in the room and see how it look to be honest i couldn't take my eyes off it neither could my wife, in fact everyone who has visited has been pleasantly addicted to sitting next to it! so i hope you all like the images I've chosen for your viewing.
The next set of images show the secret compartment which slides up from the very top.
This then reveals a draw which contains quite a rare treasure, some of my Spanish friends may recognise this coin or a more familiar name piece of eight. The original "treasure coins." Struck and trimmed by hand in the 1500s through 1700s at Spanish mints in Mexico, Peru, and Colombia (among others), silver and gold cobs are handsomely crude, nearly all with a cross as the central feature on one side and either a coat-of-arms (shield) or a tic-tac-toe-like "pillars and waves" on the other side. Silver cobs are known as "reales" and gold cobs are known as "escudos," with two 8 reales (about 27 grams each) equalling one escudo. Some cobs were struck with a date, and most show a mint mark and an initial or monogram for the assayer, the mint official who was responsible for weight and fineness. Size and shape were immaterial, which means that most cobs are far from round or uniform in thickness. Cobs were generally accepted as good currency all around the world, and were the exact coins pirates referred to as "pieces of eight" (8 reales) and "doubloons" (any gold cobs but originally 2 escudos).
This particular coin was minted at Potosi. The silver was taken by llama and mule train to the Pacific coast, shipped north to Panama City, carried by mule train across the isthmus of Panama to Nombre de Dios or Portobelo whence it was taken to Spain on the Spanish treasure fleets many of which were wrecked or pilaged by pirates.
This particular coin shows evidence of chop marks where the coin would have had pieces literally chopped off to use as a less currency i will disclose the location of where i found this to the new owner.
I have to apologise again for my last post as the riddle on the back was unreadable i guess that was just me rushing lol anyhow here's a fully readable version for all.
All im going to say is the riddle takes into account some of the items within the room box and its not as simple as it many appear to be!! Now i'll let you all ponder .
Have a great week everyone. Tony.