Bolivia 4 Reales 1598-1621 "Santa Margarita 1622 Shipwreck" RAW
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BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 4 reales, Philip III (1598–1621), assayer not visible, Grade 4. KM-9. 6.99 grams.
A dramatic survivor from the depths of the 1622 Santa Margarita shipwreck, this silver 4 reales cob hails from the prolific Potosí Mint in colonial Bolivia, struck under the reign of Spanish King Philip III. While the assayer’s mark is no longer visible due to extensive saltwater corrosion, the coin still exhibits a bold full cross and much of the shield design—an impressive feat given the heavy marine encrustation and long submersion. Patchy natural toning enhances its sea-worn character. Notably, the original artifact tag and certificate erroneously label it as a 2 reales, though the weight and design clearly indicate a 4 reales denomination.
Philip III’s reign marked a pivotal era in Spanish imperial history, characterized by the vast flow of silver from the New World into Europe—a lifeblood for the Spanish crown and its sprawling global empire. These coins were minted from silver extracted from the fabled mines of Potosí, among the richest sources of silver the world has ever known.
Recovered from the Santa Margarita, one of the storied ships of the ill-fated 1622 Treasure Fleet, which sank off the coast of Key West during a violent hurricane, this coin offers both numismatic intrigue and shipwreck history. Along with its original Mel Fisher photo-certificate and artifact tag #8173, it is a tangible link to the perilous transatlantic voyages that once powered the Spanish empire.x
Click Here to read more about the 'Atocha 1622 Shipwreck'
A dramatic survivor from the depths of the 1622 Santa Margarita shipwreck, this silver 4 reales cob hails from the prolific Potosí Mint in colonial Bolivia, struck under the reign of Spanish King Philip III. While the assayer’s mark is no longer visible due to extensive saltwater corrosion, the coin still exhibits a bold full cross and much of the shield design—an impressive feat given the heavy marine encrustation and long submersion. Patchy natural toning enhances its sea-worn character. Notably, the original artifact tag and certificate erroneously label it as a 2 reales, though the weight and design clearly indicate a 4 reales denomination.
Philip III’s reign marked a pivotal era in Spanish imperial history, characterized by the vast flow of silver from the New World into Europe—a lifeblood for the Spanish crown and its sprawling global empire. These coins were minted from silver extracted from the fabled mines of Potosí, among the richest sources of silver the world has ever known.
Recovered from the Santa Margarita, one of the storied ships of the ill-fated 1622 Treasure Fleet, which sank off the coast of Key West during a violent hurricane, this coin offers both numismatic intrigue and shipwreck history. Along with its original Mel Fisher photo-certificate and artifact tag #8173, it is a tangible link to the perilous transatlantic voyages that once powered the Spanish empire.x
Click Here to read more about the 'Atocha 1622 Shipwreck'
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