1712 DOUBLE DATED NGC PERU 1715 FLEET SHIPWRECK 8 ESCUDOS PIRATE GOLD COINS

Description: Peru 8 Escudos 1712 "Double Dated- 1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC 58 Description Peru 8 Escudos 1712 "Double Dated- 1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC 58! I don't use the descriptive term "Stunning," lightly, or actually ever before; but I will use it here with a conservative tone. Let's begin with the DOUBLE DATE, one of the Best we've ever seen! Moving on to the FULL CROWN.... very Rarely have we've seen such a nice Full Crown on a Peruvian cob. Most collectors are unconsciously drawn to this characteristic without even realizing what the attraction is... it's the Full Crown! It really centers and becomes a focal point of the viewer(the Cherry on top if you will). An excellent strike all around, but especially on Both dates. Virtually No doubling throughout, and very rarely seen is a complete Inner Ring of the band of dots. If you look just to the right and the left of the Crown you actually see the beginning of the Outter band of dots as well. Cross side: The extremely strong pull here (besides the thick Bold Cross, with Full Lions & Castles) is the King's Ordinal, WOW! Virtually all of the strike is "High Relief." Full inner ring of dots once again. You really need to examine closely before noticing the Top Cross (above the main cross) is actually Rotated. This is very rarely seen, much rarer variety. We procured a very similar 1712 Double Dated 8 Escudos back about 7 years ago or so (in grade 63) and you will see it in our ebay store and platforms. This example coin listed here today is Every Bit as nice in luster, strike and certainly on the Double Date. Perhaps what this piece has that the 63 lacks is the King's Ordinal. Truly a Trophy Piece destined for the most discriminate of 1715 Collections! In the evening of July 30, 1715, seven days after departing from Havana, Cuba, 11 of the 12 ships from 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 loot. 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 Queen's Dowry. The king would send two separate fleets to the New World (after the government had cancelled all sailing 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 Queen's 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 pearls 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 Gold Chain and 5 additional Gold escudos were just recovered, approx.. $300,000 in value.32

Price: 49000 USD

Location: La Jolla, California

End Time: 2024-02-21T19:19:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD