Bolivia 8 Reales 1598-1621 "Atocha 1622 Shipwreck" RAW
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Potosí Pillar of Empire: Atocha Shipwreck Bolivia 8 Reales, Grade 3 (1622), 20.09g – With Original 1975 Hand-Signed Mel Fisher COA and Treasure Salvage Tag
Unearthed from the seabed of history and legend, this remarkable Bolivia 8 Reales cob, struck at the Potosí Mint in the early 17th century, was salvaged from the wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha—one of the most storied treasure galleons ever lost at sea. Graded Grade 3 and weighing 20.09 grams, this cob carries the rugged character of shipwreck survival, authenticated with a Mel Fisher treasure tag and accompanied by a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity from 1975, dating to the earliest days of Fisher’s groundbreaking salvage operations.
The Coin: A Survivor from the Potosí Mint
Struck in silver-rich highlands of Bolivia, the Potosí 8 Reales was the monetary cornerstone of the Spanish empire—recognized from Manila to Madrid as the "piece of eight." During this period, the Potosí Mint (founded 1574) was under the oversight of the Spanish crown, and in 1622, it was producing vast quantities of silver coinage mined from the infamous Cerro Rico, or “Rich Hill,” a mountain that became a graveyard for countless Indigenous and African laborers pressed into service by the mita system.
The cob coinage of Potosí is iconic for its hand-struck, irregular form—a stark contrast to the machined precision of later milled coinage. On this example, traces of the Habsburg shield and Jerusalem cross motif may remain visible despite its Grade 3 designation, with the surfaces naturally sea-worn by centuries of exposure to saltwater, coral, and time. These coins were not made to be beautiful—they were made to be imperial war-funding engines, forged quickly in a chaotic colonial crucible.
Provenance and Legacy
The accompanying Fisher artifact tag and hand-signed COA from 1975 add a crucial layer of provenance. Coins with early certificates signed by Mel Fisher himself are increasingly scarce and desirable among collectors, as they mark the true genesis of modern shipwreck salvage.
To own this coin is to hold not only silver, but survival—through conquest, shipwreck, and rediscovery. It is a tactile link to the economic and maritime currents of the 17th century, a relic of empire, and a chapter in one of the greatest real-life treasure hunts in history.
Click Here to read more about the 'Atocha 1622 Shipwreck'
Unearthed from the seabed of history and legend, this remarkable Bolivia 8 Reales cob, struck at the Potosí Mint in the early 17th century, was salvaged from the wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha—one of the most storied treasure galleons ever lost at sea. Graded Grade 3 and weighing 20.09 grams, this cob carries the rugged character of shipwreck survival, authenticated with a Mel Fisher treasure tag and accompanied by a hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity from 1975, dating to the earliest days of Fisher’s groundbreaking salvage operations.
The Coin: A Survivor from the Potosí Mint
Struck in silver-rich highlands of Bolivia, the Potosí 8 Reales was the monetary cornerstone of the Spanish empire—recognized from Manila to Madrid as the "piece of eight." During this period, the Potosí Mint (founded 1574) was under the oversight of the Spanish crown, and in 1622, it was producing vast quantities of silver coinage mined from the infamous Cerro Rico, or “Rich Hill,” a mountain that became a graveyard for countless Indigenous and African laborers pressed into service by the mita system.
The cob coinage of Potosí is iconic for its hand-struck, irregular form—a stark contrast to the machined precision of later milled coinage. On this example, traces of the Habsburg shield and Jerusalem cross motif may remain visible despite its Grade 3 designation, with the surfaces naturally sea-worn by centuries of exposure to saltwater, coral, and time. These coins were not made to be beautiful—they were made to be imperial war-funding engines, forged quickly in a chaotic colonial crucible.
Provenance and Legacy
The accompanying Fisher artifact tag and hand-signed COA from 1975 add a crucial layer of provenance. Coins with early certificates signed by Mel Fisher himself are increasingly scarce and desirable among collectors, as they mark the true genesis of modern shipwreck salvage.
To own this coin is to hold not only silver, but survival—through conquest, shipwreck, and rediscovery. It is a tactile link to the economic and maritime currents of the 17th century, a relic of empire, and a chapter in one of the greatest real-life treasure hunts in history.
Click Here to read more about the 'Atocha 1622 Shipwreck'
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