In the early 1990s the numismatic market began to hear about a massive find of 4,500 early Potosí cobs (practically all 8 and 4 reales) in fabulous condition—infact, totally uncorroded but with tell tale orange clay on what were otherwise MS surfaces. Soon this hoard took on many differentnames as the stories emerged:  “Panama hoard,” Camino Real Trail hoard,”and, “Mule Train hoard” (based on a rumor that the hoard was lost when a mule that was carrying the treasure fell over a cliff). The most believable story heard is that the hoard was found stashed in the wall of a house that was torn down in 1977. The political atmosphere under General Noriega kept most of the coins in hiding until the 1990s. The latest date on the coins in this hoard is 1629, but inorder to allow enough time for the coins to travel from Potosí to Porto Bello the date of the hoard is sometimes given as 1630