Peru 8 Escudos 1712 "1715 Fleet Shipwreck" RAW
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This remarkable Peru 8 Escudos dated 1712 emerges not just as a numismatic rarity but as a tangible relic of one of the most storied maritime disasters in early modern history: the 1715 Plate Fleet shipwreck. Struck in Lima under the reign of Philip V, Spain’s first Bourbon king, this coin was destined to fuel the empire’s ambitions but instead spent centuries entombed beneath the waves of Florida’s Treasure Coast. It is offered raw, as recovered, and accompanied by an original Salvors Inc. Certificate of Authenticity—a rare early artifact in itself from the earliest days of modern treasure recovery.
Minted during the second full decade of Philip V’s rule, this gold cob represents the wealth flowing from Spain’s American colonies during a period of dynastic transition and imperial restructuring. The reverse bears the bold Jerusalem cross, a symbol of divine kingship and crusader-era authority, while the obverse features the Bourbon shield—a political statement amid the War of the Spanish Succession. This was a time when Spain was desperate to reassert control over its trade routes, and Lima's mint played a crucial role in supplying gold to the Crown. The “8 escudos” denomination was the pillar of Spanish monetary policy and transatlantic trade, equivalent to the famous “doubloon” of pirate lore.
Unique to this coin is its direct connection to the 1715 Fleet disaster, a catastrophe that unfolded in the early hours of July 31, 1715, when eleven of twelve treasure-laden ships were destroyed by a hurricane off the east coast of Florida. The fleet had departed from Havana, overloaded with precious metals, gemstones, and imperial payrolls—months, even years’ worth of colonial wealth bound for the Spanish treasury. Tragically, most of the fleet's cargo never made it to Spain.
In total, hundreds of thousands of silver and gold coins, jewelry, and ecclesiastical treasures were lost—some of it still buried today. This 1712 Lima 8 Escudos is among the few that have resurfaced, thanks to the efforts of modern salvors like Real Eight Co. and Treasure Salvors Inc., whose 20th-century recoveries reignited the world’s fascination with sunken Spanish treasure. The included Salvors Inc. COA places this piece in the elite class of verified shipwreck coins, tracked and recorded at a time when these discoveries were reshaping both archaeology and treasure hunting.
Whether you are a collector, historian, or treasure enthusiast, this raw 1712 Peru 8 Escudos stands as a striking artifact of Spanish maritime power, colonial ambition, and the relentless pull of the sea. A genuine piece of the 1715 Fleet legend—rare, raw, and resonant with the drama of history.
Click Here to read more about the '1715 Fleet Shipwreck'
Minted during the second full decade of Philip V’s rule, this gold cob represents the wealth flowing from Spain’s American colonies during a period of dynastic transition and imperial restructuring. The reverse bears the bold Jerusalem cross, a symbol of divine kingship and crusader-era authority, while the obverse features the Bourbon shield—a political statement amid the War of the Spanish Succession. This was a time when Spain was desperate to reassert control over its trade routes, and Lima's mint played a crucial role in supplying gold to the Crown. The “8 escudos” denomination was the pillar of Spanish monetary policy and transatlantic trade, equivalent to the famous “doubloon” of pirate lore.
Unique to this coin is its direct connection to the 1715 Fleet disaster, a catastrophe that unfolded in the early hours of July 31, 1715, when eleven of twelve treasure-laden ships were destroyed by a hurricane off the east coast of Florida. The fleet had departed from Havana, overloaded with precious metals, gemstones, and imperial payrolls—months, even years’ worth of colonial wealth bound for the Spanish treasury. Tragically, most of the fleet's cargo never made it to Spain.
In total, hundreds of thousands of silver and gold coins, jewelry, and ecclesiastical treasures were lost—some of it still buried today. This 1712 Lima 8 Escudos is among the few that have resurfaced, thanks to the efforts of modern salvors like Real Eight Co. and Treasure Salvors Inc., whose 20th-century recoveries reignited the world’s fascination with sunken Spanish treasure. The included Salvors Inc. COA places this piece in the elite class of verified shipwreck coins, tracked and recorded at a time when these discoveries were reshaping both archaeology and treasure hunting.
Whether you are a collector, historian, or treasure enthusiast, this raw 1712 Peru 8 Escudos stands as a striking artifact of Spanish maritime power, colonial ambition, and the relentless pull of the sea. A genuine piece of the 1715 Fleet legend—rare, raw, and resonant with the drama of history.
Click Here to read more about the '1715 Fleet Shipwreck'
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