Mexico 8 Escudos 1714 "1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC 64
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MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos, (1714) J, Royal dies, NGC MS 64 (1715 Fleet Shipwreck Label), ex-Kip Wagner (stated on label), Pieces of Eight and National Geographic Plate. S-M30; Cal-unl; KM-unl. 26.98 grams
Following the Real Eight Company's discoveries of gold from the 1715 Fleet in the early 1960s, Kip Wagner embarked on a mission to showcase his findings. He conceived the idea of featuring an article in National Geographic along with a book, both containing identical photos. Wagner took pride in exhibiting coins he had preserved, particularly highlighting two Mexican 8 escudos coins between his thumbs and forefingers. One displayed the shield side, while the other showed the cross side, with the former being the focal point. What Wagner may not have been aware of was the exceptional beauty of this coin, attributed to its origin from the same dies as the elegant Royals (galanos) of that era.
There's a possibility that this specific coin, despite its slightly smaller and less uniform flan, could have been a test strike, given its impeccable centering and crisp details. The presence of quatrefoil ornaments above and below the oMJ and VIII, along with "daggers" in the tressure around the cross, signifies its royal status. However, the peripheries, including the date, retain the flat and beveled characteristics typical of coins from that period.
Enhanced by a gentle toning over its abundant luster, coupled with its distinguished history, this coin deserves recognition as one of the prime treasures salvaged from the 1715 Fleet. Its prominence is further established by its inclusion in the January 1965 issue of National Geographic under the article "Drowned Galleons Yield Spanish Gold," and in Kip Wagner's book "Pieces of Eight" from 1966. Its provenance is documented through certificates, invoices from Frank Sedwick dating back to 1990, and a letter establishing its origin from the estate of Kip Wagner, solidifying its prestigious pedigree.
Click Here to read more about the '1715 Fleet Shipwreck'
Following the Real Eight Company's discoveries of gold from the 1715 Fleet in the early 1960s, Kip Wagner embarked on a mission to showcase his findings. He conceived the idea of featuring an article in National Geographic along with a book, both containing identical photos. Wagner took pride in exhibiting coins he had preserved, particularly highlighting two Mexican 8 escudos coins between his thumbs and forefingers. One displayed the shield side, while the other showed the cross side, with the former being the focal point. What Wagner may not have been aware of was the exceptional beauty of this coin, attributed to its origin from the same dies as the elegant Royals (galanos) of that era.
There's a possibility that this specific coin, despite its slightly smaller and less uniform flan, could have been a test strike, given its impeccable centering and crisp details. The presence of quatrefoil ornaments above and below the oMJ and VIII, along with "daggers" in the tressure around the cross, signifies its royal status. However, the peripheries, including the date, retain the flat and beveled characteristics typical of coins from that period.
Enhanced by a gentle toning over its abundant luster, coupled with its distinguished history, this coin deserves recognition as one of the prime treasures salvaged from the 1715 Fleet. Its prominence is further established by its inclusion in the January 1965 issue of National Geographic under the article "Drowned Galleons Yield Spanish Gold," and in Kip Wagner's book "Pieces of Eight" from 1966. Its provenance is documented through certificates, invoices from Frank Sedwick dating back to 1990, and a letter establishing its origin from the estate of Kip Wagner, solidifying its prestigious pedigree.
Click Here to read more about the '1715 Fleet Shipwreck'
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