Peru 8 Escudos 1702 "from 1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC 64!!
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This extraordinary Peru 1702 8 Escudos is a true gem of numismatic and maritime history. Graded NGC MS 64, this dazzling artifact from the legendary 1715 Fleet is one of only six known examples, with just one at NGC 62 and only two graded higher! But beyond its rarity, this coin is a masterpiece of Spanish colonial minting, boasting a fully intact crown, sharply defined reverse legends, and an exceptionally bold cross—a testament to the artistry of its era.
Unlike many shipwreck-recovered coins, this specimen exhibits strong, undoubled strikes on its castles and lions, with deep, lustrous golden hues that almost blind the eye. The large planchet version adds to its grandeur, while the crisp, surrounding dots and regal inscriptions—including the king’s ordinal, "PHILIPPUS V D.G. HISPANIARUM REX" (Philip V, by the Grace of God, King of Spain)—highlight its historical significance. Weighing in at a full 26.98 grams, this is an extraordinary relic of a sunken empire.
FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE 1715 TREASURE FLEET
Two specimens of the elusive 1702 Lima 8 Escudos were recovered on July 31, 2015, from the wreck site of the Almirante ship, Santo Cristo de San Román, one of the fleet’s most storied vessels. Salvors documented these finds with official photo certificates. The history of this date extends even further, with the legendary Bob Johnson uncovering two examples in 1964 on Douglas Beach, inside a disintegrated chest of Lima and Mexican gold cobs. Half a century later, Queen’s Jewels brought this incredible MS 64 to light—one of the finest known survivors from the fleet!
THE 1715 FLEET: SPAIN’S ILL-FATED TREASURE ARMADA
The 1715 Treasure Fleet was a massive Spanish convoy returning from the New World, heavily laden with silver and gold. After the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), King Philip V of Spain—grandson of Louis XIV of France—sought to restore Spain’s finances and secure his new bride, Elizabeth Farnese, Duchess of Parma, a lavish dowry fit for a queen. However, the Spanish crown had suspended transatlantic voyages for two years, leading to an unprecedented stockpile of wealth awaiting transport.
In a bold strategy, two treasure fleets were assembled: one departing from Veracruz, Mexico, and the other from Cartagena, Colombia, both converging in Havana in early 1715. These ships carried three years’ worth of accumulated riches, including gold from Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombian emeralds from the legendary Muzo mines, and exquisite Peruvian gold jewelry. Among the most coveted treasures were the Queen’s Jewels, a legendary collection rumored to include a 74-carat emerald ring, a heart-shaped pendant of 130 matched pearls, and a rosary of pure coral—all stored in the captain’s cabin of Ubilla’s flagship.
On July 24, 1715, the fleet finally set sail from Havana under the command of General Don Juan Esteban de Ubilla, navigating with favorable winds—until disaster struck. By July 29, a massive hurricane bore down on the convoy. Winds exceeding 100 knots tore through the fleet, and in the early hours of July 31, the flagship was dashed against the reefs. Survivors recounted a horrifying scene: waves "like arrows" piercing the air, wreckage scattered along 30 miles of coastline, and over 700 sailors lost to the raging sea.
For four years, the Spanish made desperate attempts to recover the treasure, but relentless storms, sharks, pirates, and indigenous attacks hampered their efforts. By 1719, salvage operations ceased, with official records stating that only 30% of the inventoried treasure—a fraction of the 14 million pesos of registered wealth—was recovered. However, contemporary reports suggest that much of the hoard was never documented to evade royal taxation, leaving an untold fortune still waiting beneath the waves.
PIRATES, PRIVATEERS, AND THE LEGEND OF "PIRATE GOLD"
In the wake of the disaster, the shipwreck became a magnet for pirates, privateers, and fortune seekers. One of the first to seize the opportunity was Henry Jennings, an English privateer who attacked Spanish salvage ships and plundered their recovered loot. This daring act cemented the 1715 Fleet’s gold as "Pirate Gold", forever linking these coins to the Golden Age of Piracy.
THE TREASURE STILL WASHES ASHORE
Over three centuries later, the 1715 Fleet continues to unveil its secrets. In 2010, treasure hunters discovered the only known bronze swivel gun from the fleet—astonishingly, it was stuffed with 51 gold escudos and 40 silver reales! Other recent finds include:
Unlike many shipwreck-recovered coins, this specimen exhibits strong, undoubled strikes on its castles and lions, with deep, lustrous golden hues that almost blind the eye. The large planchet version adds to its grandeur, while the crisp, surrounding dots and regal inscriptions—including the king’s ordinal, "PHILIPPUS V D.G. HISPANIARUM REX" (Philip V, by the Grace of God, King of Spain)—highlight its historical significance. Weighing in at a full 26.98 grams, this is an extraordinary relic of a sunken empire.
FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE 1715 TREASURE FLEET
Two specimens of the elusive 1702 Lima 8 Escudos were recovered on July 31, 2015, from the wreck site of the Almirante ship, Santo Cristo de San Román, one of the fleet’s most storied vessels. Salvors documented these finds with official photo certificates. The history of this date extends even further, with the legendary Bob Johnson uncovering two examples in 1964 on Douglas Beach, inside a disintegrated chest of Lima and Mexican gold cobs. Half a century later, Queen’s Jewels brought this incredible MS 64 to light—one of the finest known survivors from the fleet!
THE 1715 FLEET: SPAIN’S ILL-FATED TREASURE ARMADA
The 1715 Treasure Fleet was a massive Spanish convoy returning from the New World, heavily laden with silver and gold. After the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), King Philip V of Spain—grandson of Louis XIV of France—sought to restore Spain’s finances and secure his new bride, Elizabeth Farnese, Duchess of Parma, a lavish dowry fit for a queen. However, the Spanish crown had suspended transatlantic voyages for two years, leading to an unprecedented stockpile of wealth awaiting transport.
In a bold strategy, two treasure fleets were assembled: one departing from Veracruz, Mexico, and the other from Cartagena, Colombia, both converging in Havana in early 1715. These ships carried three years’ worth of accumulated riches, including gold from Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombian emeralds from the legendary Muzo mines, and exquisite Peruvian gold jewelry. Among the most coveted treasures were the Queen’s Jewels, a legendary collection rumored to include a 74-carat emerald ring, a heart-shaped pendant of 130 matched pearls, and a rosary of pure coral—all stored in the captain’s cabin of Ubilla’s flagship.
On July 24, 1715, the fleet finally set sail from Havana under the command of General Don Juan Esteban de Ubilla, navigating with favorable winds—until disaster struck. By July 29, a massive hurricane bore down on the convoy. Winds exceeding 100 knots tore through the fleet, and in the early hours of July 31, the flagship was dashed against the reefs. Survivors recounted a horrifying scene: waves "like arrows" piercing the air, wreckage scattered along 30 miles of coastline, and over 700 sailors lost to the raging sea.
For four years, the Spanish made desperate attempts to recover the treasure, but relentless storms, sharks, pirates, and indigenous attacks hampered their efforts. By 1719, salvage operations ceased, with official records stating that only 30% of the inventoried treasure—a fraction of the 14 million pesos of registered wealth—was recovered. However, contemporary reports suggest that much of the hoard was never documented to evade royal taxation, leaving an untold fortune still waiting beneath the waves.
PIRATES, PRIVATEERS, AND THE LEGEND OF "PIRATE GOLD"
In the wake of the disaster, the shipwreck became a magnet for pirates, privateers, and fortune seekers. One of the first to seize the opportunity was Henry Jennings, an English privateer who attacked Spanish salvage ships and plundered their recovered loot. This daring act cemented the 1715 Fleet’s gold as "Pirate Gold", forever linking these coins to the Golden Age of Piracy.
THE TREASURE STILL WASHES ASHORE
Over three centuries later, the 1715 Fleet continues to unveil its secrets. In 2010, treasure hunters discovered the only known bronze swivel gun from the fleet—astonishingly, it was stuffed with 51 gold escudos and 40 silver reales! Other recent finds include:
- The "Pelican in Piety" artifact, valued at $885,000
- A July 2014 recovery of 51 gold escudos, worth $300,000
- A stunning 50-foot gold chain, alongside five more gold escudos, valued at $300,000
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