Description: PERU 8 Escudos 1712 ~DOUBLE DATED!~ "1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC 40PERU 8 Escudos 1712 ~DOUBLE DATED!~ "1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC 40 Pirate Gold Coins Shipwreck Treasure PERU 1712 “FULL DOUBLE DATE!” 8 ESCUDOS NGC 40 GOLD DOUBLOON COB COIN ~ 1715 FLEET SHIPWRECK This piece is piece is truly the nicest (overall) Gold Doubloon I’ve ever had the pleasure to handle (besides grade of course). This Cob really appears to be struck as a “Presentation Piece or ROYAL.” It’s even more perfectly round then several presentation pieces, especially Cob pieces! Certainly the other near perfection attribute is the DOUBLE DATE! We also have a 1712 Double date piece in MS 63 as well, and this piece looks just as nice as that piece, with ALL digits struck FULLY in place. This example actually even has the FULL CROWN, which I would estimate 95% + of cobs are lacking. The “Face up” of this piece is stunning due to the incredibly deep rich toning, which Contrasts the Devices beautifully (representative of a Truly Sunken Ship)! Just as important as the Double Date and the Toning is the incredible CENTERING!!! The Obverse of this Doubloon is one has the most remarkable CENTERING I’ve ever seen on a Pieces of Eight! Overall, this Cob ranks up at the top of ALL 8 Escudos that I’ve personally seen (which is a lot). A very Rare opportunity to acquire such an exemplary Doubloon! (Weight is 26.8 gms FR-7; KM-38.2; Cal-Type-5#23).32/db From the 1715 PLATE FLEET, this piece has the right toning and golden color with a deep sediment background, undoubtedly salvaged from the Real 8 from the Douglas Beach site (Nieves), testifying to its Fleet orgins. Most of the 1712’s originally sold in the Real 8 auctions between 1964-1977 (over a dozen of this date) and 42 other pieces in the Florida State Collection, most which also came from this site. Regarding the 2nd date, this particular piece, is certainly in the top three pieces I’ve found in all my research (sharing this honor with the NGC 63 and also with a raw Unc. Piece that was owned by Dr. Frank Sedwick). This piece however, also displays a bold, Full and complete Crown. But perhaps the most impressive characteristic of this Onza is it perfect roundness. It’s almost as if it was prepared as a “Royal.” The 1712 was the 2nd year behind the inaugural 1710’s to strike a “Double date” in the legends. In 1710 (first year of Double dating), assayer Hurtado was in his final year. Assayer Melgarejo “M” was appointed in 1711, still a mystery to date, he ceased the “Double Date” practice; but resumed it again in 1712. Clearly displayed on this piece is a very strong and bold strike of both dates and the another legends and devices as well. Rarely seen, is such a level of non-distracting details, mainly the absence of any Doubling whatsoever. Truly a superb specimen with well above characteristics. In the evening of July 30, 1715 , seven days after departing from Havana, Cuba, 11 of the 12 ships of this fleet were lost in a hurricane near present day Vero Beach, Florida. Because the fleet was carrying silver, it is also known as the 1715 Plate Fleet (plata being the Spanish word for silver plate). Some artifacts and even coins still wash up on Florida beaches from time to time. Around 1,000 sailors perished while a small number survived on lifeboats. Many ships, including pirates, took part in the initial salvage. Initially a privateer, Henry Jennings was first accused of piracy for attacking such salvage ships and claiming their salvages. Thus, earning this coinage the name of “Pirate’s Gold!” The story begins with the “War of the Spanish Succession” ending, as well as the death of the Spanish Queen. King Philip found a new bride, Elizabeth Farnesse, Duchess of Palma and needed a new Queens Dowry. The king would send two separate fleets to the New World (after the Government had cancelled all sailings from the Americas to Spain for two years), which would load up at separate ports ~ Vera Cruz and Cartegena, then meet up in Havana. The plan was to have one large Armada with a heavy navel escort, carrying the accumulated precious metals and jewels from the last three years. Of which, the average year sailed in between 90 and 120 million francs. Treasure ~ The Cartegena Fleet arrived first in Havana (in March), loaded down by chests filled with Gold coins (from Santa Fe de Bogota), Colombian Emeralds from Muzo mine and gold jewelry from Peru. Awaiting the fleet of Vera Cruz, commanded by Gen. Don Juan Eseban de Ubilla, carrying Gold and Silver ingots. However Don Juan was delayed in Vera Cruz awaiting pack mule trains from Acapulco. Finally in the first week of May the mule train arrived with their silks, ivories and blue and white porcelains. The details of the Queens jewels are blurry at best, but were known to include and Emerald ring weighing in at 74 carats, a heart designed from 130 matched pears, a pair of earrings each of 14 pears and a rosary of pure coral. There were 8 chests in total and stowed in Ubilla’s cabin (who was a senior military officer and had overall command). After many other delays, finally the Galleons left Havana on Wednesday July 24th, with favorable winds pushing them at nearly 6 knots. By the 29th the winds were over 70 knots, with gusts hitting over 100 knots. The chaplain said, “the water flew in the air like arrows, doing injury to those it hit.” Finally, at 2:30am on July 31st, the flagship hit the reefs and torn apart, throwing all off her decks and 223 sailors were pounded to death by the rocks. More than 700 men were missing, wreckage and bodies scattered for almost 30 miles along the coast. For the next four years the Spanish attempted to salvage the treasure, but finally ceased in 1719. The dangers or sharks, pirates and Indians were just too great. Records show approx.. 30% of the inventoried treasure was recovered, which is a low estimate due to much of the inventory being kept off the books to avoid the king’s tax. There was an estimate of 14 million pesos registered treasure lost. This sunken fleet of Galleons is still giving up her Treasure! In 2010 the claim owners discovered the only bronze swivel gun ever found on the 1715 Fleet. Tucked away inside this the bronze cannon were 51 Gold Escudos and 40 Silver Reales. Shortly after was another discovery of the most amazing artifact, the “Pelican in Piety,” worth $885,000. Then in July 2014, the claim owners crew recovered another 51 Gold escudos valued at $300,000. Most recently, another find of 50 Feet of Gold Chain and 5 additional Gold escudos were just recovered, approx.. $300,000 in value.
Price: 49950 USD
Location: La Jolla, California
End Time: 2024-08-07T21:11:12.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Denomination: 8 Escudos
Composition: Gold
Year: 1712
Currency: Escudo
Grade: 40
Country/Region of Manufacture: Mexico
Certification: NGC