Mexico 4 Reales ND "Santa Margarita 1622 Shipwreck" RAW
Click above image to view in eBay store
Mexico, Mexico City Cob 4 Reales | Philip III (Assayer Not Visible) | Grade 4 | 8.93g
Recovered from the legendary 1622 wreck of the Santa Margarita
With original Mel Fisher tag and photo certificate #87M-137910
From the depths of maritime tragedy and imperial ambition emerges this evocative silver cob 4 Reales, struck in colonial Mexico under the rule of King Philip III of Spain (reigned 1598–1621). Recovered from the fabled wreck of the Santa Margarita—one of the most storied treasure galleons of the Spanish Empire—this coin offers a rare tactile link to the global power struggles and seafaring perils of the early 17th century.
Minted in the bustling Mexico City mint, the coin features a broad flan, though some 30% of the edge has surrendered to centuries of saltwater corrosion—a poetic testament to its long submersion beneath the waves. Despite this, the piece is remarkably well-preserved for a Grade 4 recovery: the full denomination “4” is clearly visible alongside much of Philip’s royal name, and the offset cross and shield lend it a dynamic, almost haunting aesthetic. Far more compelling than a typical sea-worn cob, this relic preserves layers of both history and mystery.
The Santa Margarita was part of the ill-fated 1622 Spanish treasure fleet, which also included the more famous Nuestra Señora de Atocha. Laden with untold riches—gold, silver, emeralds, and other spoils of empire—the fleet departed from Havana and headed for Spain, only to be decimated by a catastrophic hurricane near the Florida Keys. The Santa Margarita went down just west of Key West, taking with it a massive cargo of precious metals and hundreds of lives.
Philip III's reign, often overshadowed by his more flamboyant predecessors, marked a critical period of Spain’s imperial overreach. His rule saw Spain embroiled in the Eighty Years’ War, as well as increasing dependence on the immense wealth drawn from its colonies—especially from the silver-rich territories of New Spain and Peru. Coins like this one funded Spain’s military ambitions, baroque court, and vast overseas enterprises, yet they also symbolize the fragility of that power, susceptible to both political mismanagement and the raw force of nature.
This 4 Reales cob is not just a collector’s item—it’s a survivor of both empire and ocean, made all the more captivating by its original Mel Fisher photo certificate and recovery tag. A true artifact of the Spanish maritime empire, it stands as a physical echo of a world built on silver, sea routes, and soaring imperial dreams.
Click Here to read more about the 'Atocha 1622 Shipwreck'
Recovered from the legendary 1622 wreck of the Santa Margarita
With original Mel Fisher tag and photo certificate #87M-137910
From the depths of maritime tragedy and imperial ambition emerges this evocative silver cob 4 Reales, struck in colonial Mexico under the rule of King Philip III of Spain (reigned 1598–1621). Recovered from the fabled wreck of the Santa Margarita—one of the most storied treasure galleons of the Spanish Empire—this coin offers a rare tactile link to the global power struggles and seafaring perils of the early 17th century.
Minted in the bustling Mexico City mint, the coin features a broad flan, though some 30% of the edge has surrendered to centuries of saltwater corrosion—a poetic testament to its long submersion beneath the waves. Despite this, the piece is remarkably well-preserved for a Grade 4 recovery: the full denomination “4” is clearly visible alongside much of Philip’s royal name, and the offset cross and shield lend it a dynamic, almost haunting aesthetic. Far more compelling than a typical sea-worn cob, this relic preserves layers of both history and mystery.
The Santa Margarita was part of the ill-fated 1622 Spanish treasure fleet, which also included the more famous Nuestra Señora de Atocha. Laden with untold riches—gold, silver, emeralds, and other spoils of empire—the fleet departed from Havana and headed for Spain, only to be decimated by a catastrophic hurricane near the Florida Keys. The Santa Margarita went down just west of Key West, taking with it a massive cargo of precious metals and hundreds of lives.
Philip III's reign, often overshadowed by his more flamboyant predecessors, marked a critical period of Spain’s imperial overreach. His rule saw Spain embroiled in the Eighty Years’ War, as well as increasing dependence on the immense wealth drawn from its colonies—especially from the silver-rich territories of New Spain and Peru. Coins like this one funded Spain’s military ambitions, baroque court, and vast overseas enterprises, yet they also symbolize the fragility of that power, susceptible to both political mismanagement and the raw force of nature.
This 4 Reales cob is not just a collector’s item—it’s a survivor of both empire and ocean, made all the more captivating by its original Mel Fisher photo certificate and recovery tag. A true artifact of the Spanish maritime empire, it stands as a physical echo of a world built on silver, sea routes, and soaring imperial dreams.
Click Here to read more about the 'Atocha 1622 Shipwreck'
|
|
|
|
|