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- DATED! MEXICO 8 REALES 1714 PIRATE GOLD COINS '1715 FLEET SHIPWRECK' NGC VG COIN
DATED! MEXICO 8 REALES 1714 PIRATE GOLD COINS '1715 FLEET SHIPWRECK' NGC VG COIN
Mexico 8 Reales 1714 "From the 1715 Fleet Shipwreck" NGC VG! FULL FULL DATE!!
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 from 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 loot. Thus, earning this coinage the name of “Pirate’s Gold!”
The story begins with the “War of the Spanish Succession” ending, as well as the death of the Spanish Queen. King Philip found a new bride, Elizabeth Farnesse, Duchess of Palma and needed a new Queen's Dowry. The king would send two separate fleets to the New World (after the government had cancelled all sailing from the Americas to Spain for two years), which would load up at separate ports ~ Vera Cruz and Cartegena, then meet up in Havana. The plan was to have one large Armada with a heavy navel escort, carrying the accumulated precious metals and jewels from the last three years. Of which, the average year sailed in between 90 and 120 million francs. Treasure ~ The Cartegena Fleet arrived first in Havana (in March), loaded down by chests filled with Gold coins (from Santa Fe de Bogota), Colombian Emeralds from Muzo mine and gold jewelry from Peru. Awaiting the fleet of Vera Cruz, commanded by Gen. Don Juan Eseban de Ubilla, carrying Gold and Silver ingots. However, Don Juan was delayed in Vera Cruz awaiting pack mule trains from Acapulco. Finally, in the first week of May the mule train arrived with their silks, ivories and blue and white porcelains. The details of the Queen's Jewels are blurry at best but were known to include and Emerald ring weighing in at 74 carats, a heart designed from 130 matched pears, a pair of earrings each of 14 pearls and a rosary of pure coral. There were 8 chests in total and stowed in Ubilla’s cabin (who was a senior military officer and had overall command).