MEXICO 8 REALES 1714 DATED FLEET SHIPWRECK MEL FISHER PIRATE GOLD COINS TREASURE
Mexico 8 Reales 1714 Dated "From 1715 Fleet Shipwreck with original Cobb Coin Co (Mel Fisher COA) tag! 25.96grams. Bold Date and Mint Mark with a nearly full Cross, no Corrosion and nicely toned!! The 1715 Treasure Fleet was a Spanish treasure fleet returning from the New World to Spain. In the evening of July 30, 1715 , seven days after departing from Havana, Cuba, 11 of the 12 ships of this fleet were lost in a hurricane near present day Vero Beach, Florida. Because the fleet was carrying silver, it is also known as the 1715 Plate Fleet (plata being the Spanish word for silver plate). Some artifacts and even coins still wash up on Florida beaches from time to time. Around 1,000 sailors perished while a small number survived on lifeboats. Many ships, including pirates, took part in the initial salvage. Initially a privateer, Henry Jennings was first accused of piracy for attacking such salvage ships and claiming their salvages. Thus, earning this coinage the name of “Pirate’s Gold!”27