MEXICO DATED 1620 4 REALES "ATOCHA 1622 SHIPWRECK" PCGS VF PIRATE SILVER COINS
Prepare to embark on a thrilling journey through time as we explore the extraordinary tale of a silver treasure from the legendary Nuestra Señora de Atocha shipwreck!
This BOLDLY DATED (1620) 4 Reales MEXICO is extremely RARE! Mexico City, cob 4 reales, minted during the reign of Philip III between 1620-1622, is not just a coin - it's a tangible piece of history salvaged from one of the most famous shipwrecks in maritime lore. Weighing in at 11.28 grams, this silver relic bears the scars of its tumultuous journey, with light surface corrosion telling the tale of three centuries beneath the waves.
The coin's odd shape and distinct point outside the bold date stamp of 162(?) and oMD mint mark are testaments to the crude minting techniques of the era. Despite its time underwater, the coin still proudly displays a full shield and cross-and-tressure, symbols of the mighty Spanish Empire at its zenith.
But the true excitement lies in the coin's provenance - recovered from the Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 west of Key West, Florida. This ship was part of the ill-fated Tierra Firme fleet, caught in a devastating hurricane that scattered ships and treasures across the Florida Keys.
The Atocha's story is one of immense wealth and tragic loss. Loaded with a staggering cargo of gold, silver, and emeralds worth an estimated $400 million in today's values, the ship met its doom on September 6, 1622. Of the 265 souls aboard, only five survived, clinging desperately to the ship's mizzenmast.
For over 350 years, the Atocha's treasures lay hidden beneath the sea, defying Spanish salvage efforts and the ravages of time. It wasn't until 1985 that the persistent treasure hunter Mel Fisher and his team finally discovered the ship's main hull, unleashing a torrent of silver bars, gold coins, and priceless artifacts onto the world stage.
This particular coin, with its original Fisher tag and photo-certificate 85A-126034, is part of that incredible find. It's not just a piece of silver - it's a window into a world of Spanish conquistadors, treacherous sea voyages, and dreams of untold riches.
Imagine the hands that once held this coin - perhaps a wealthy merchant, a hardened sailor, or even the ship's captain. It witnessed the loading of the Atocha's vast treasures in Havana, felt the rising panic as the hurricane bore down, and then rested in silent darkness for centuries until its dramatic rediscovery.
Today, this cob 4 reales stands as a Grade 2 specimen, a tangible link to an age of exploration, empire, and high-seas adventure. It's more than just a collectible - it's a time capsule, a conversation piece, and a reminder of the enduring allure of sunken treasures and the mysteries that still lie beneath the waves.x/1