Pin With Possible Cobs

I wondered what "Pin with possible cobs" was - pretty neat piece but I have no idea if real or not. I'd get them tested for silver first.

Sometimes Central/South American jewelry pieces like this (moreso Central than South, though the Potosi/Lima pieces circulated in both places) use cast imitative replicas...

However, all of the pieces on this brooch/pin are definitively genuine. (3) Potosi 2R, a Lima 2R, a Potosi 1/2R, and a Lima 1/2R. 1695 to mid-1700s dates.

Long story short, I would leave as is.

If one tried to remove the mountings, even with pro jeweler tools/skill, you'd likely have very compromised pieces. They would still definitely have SOME numismatic value... but I think the sum would be no more than leaving the piece as-is. None of those pieces are amazingly rare on their own... AND it just seems wrong to do considering what you'd be left with. More desirable how it is.

Years ago I bought a wonderful necklace/bracelet combo of Kaiser-era German 1/2, 1 and 2 marks (I think an Austrian krone mixed in) for probably less than scrap. All mounted with simple loops at four edge points... everything intact and sturdy/latching. I think it would be easy enough for someone capable to do a decent job removing the mounts, but almost all are not worth it individually...

EXCEPT one very low mintage 1800s date Bavaria 2 Mark that would probably be $250ish even with removed mounts.

Gonna have to think about that one in time - it would probably be feasible to remove to one piece and resolder the neighboring coins together.

PS - I can't tell you just HOW much it's bothering me that they attached the one half real with the cross side facing opposite of how the other (5) pcs. were set.