FISHER COA DATED 1620 MEXICO 8 REALES "ATOCHA 1622 SHIPWRECK" PCGS SILVER COINS
FISHER COA ~ FULLY DATED 1620 Mexico City Cob 8 Reales from the Legendary Atocha Shipwreck
This extraordinary 1620 Mexico City-minted cob 8 reales, weighing 25.15 grams, is a true artifact of history, recovered from the wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha—a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 off the coast of Key West, Florida. This coin, graded as Grade 2, boasts a stunningly detailed Habsburg shield on the obverse, with a fully legible "oMD" mintmark and a crisp "20" in the date, making it a treasure of exceptional clarity. The denomination "8" on the right is clean and bold, while the reverse cross with lions and castles, though lightly corroded due to centuries spent underwater, still tells the tale of the Spanish Empire's wealth and power. Its light corrosion adds to its character, a mark of its journey through time and the treacherous waters where it lay hidden for centuries. Nicely toned and complete with a minor edge-split, this coin exudes history and authenticity.
But what makes this cob 8 reales truly legendary is its connection to the Atocha—one of the most famous shipwrecks in history. The Atocha was the crown jewel of a Spanish treasure fleet that set sail from the New World in 1622, carrying an unimaginable fortune in gold, silver, copper, emeralds, and jewels, all destined for the coffers of Spain's King Philip IV. Laden with wealth from the Americas, the fleet was bound for Spain but was struck by a catastrophic hurricane just off the Florida Keys. The Atocha was one of the most heavily loaded ships in the fleet, and she went down with 265 souls aboard, along with 40 tons of silver and gold, and countless other riches. Only five people survived the wreck, and the ship's treasure would remain lost beneath the sea for over three centuries.
The Atocha and her cargo became the subject of legends and dreams for treasure hunters around the world. It wasn’t until 1985, after 16 years of relentless searching, that famed treasure hunter Mel Fisher and his team finally discovered the wreckage of the Atocha. The discovery sent shockwaves through the world, as Fisher unearthed one of the richest sunken treasures ever found, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Silver bars, gold coins, and emerald-encrusted jewelry were just some of the wonders pulled from the deep, reviving the grandeur of Spain’s colonial empire and its trade routes across the Atlantic.
This particular cob 8 reales is one such artifact from that legendary find. It comes with its original Fisher tag and a photo-certificate (85A-208178), as well as an appraisal from 2012 valuing it at $6,545. Holding this coin is like holding a piece of maritime history—a tangible connection to the wealth of the New World, the perils of the Spanish Main, and the centuries-long mystery that surrounded the lost Atocha treasure.
Each edge and marking on this coin tells a story of imperial Spain’s ambitions, the perils of the high seas, and the ultimate triumph of modern-day exploration. It’s not just a coin; it’s a relic of one of the most dramatic shipwrecks in history.1/x