Posted 14 years ago
bahamaboy
(224 items)
Part of the vast treasure that sank off the coast of south east Florida. The fleet consisted of 10 ships with the flagship the Capitana which was discovered in the mid 70's. Even today after large north easters & hurricanes treasure is still washing up. I used some of my scrap gold and had this piece custom made. It was an early Christmas present from me to me in 2010. It's a little on the "too large" size as far as an inconspicuous pendant goes. At 2 1/2 inches long by over 1 inch wide you know you have something hanging on your chain when wearing it. It pretty much stays under my shirt unless I bend over, and then "out she comes". I'm undecided as to whether keep it or sell it. Its listed now but for a price that's safe to say, it won't sell hopefully. Now is that sick or what? I'm telling you. There's something dreadfully wrong with me.
Tell more! Did you find this yourself? Did it wash up during a storm and how often do you go out hunting? Dave
The coin was one of a dozen like it a good friend, actually a surfer buddy found right after hurricane David back in the late 70's. He gave it to me and I have had it ever since. At a local coin show I saw where some similar cobbs as they are called, had been wrapped with a perimeter of gold like this one. I thought they looked pretty cool so I made a couple of drawings and then had a jeweler friend wrap this one for me. I don't want to say exactly where my buddy found it but we've stayed in touch and he continues to find these old silver coins yearly. Mostly after a big storm. When the fleet sank Spain underwent a large salvage operation to recover about 10 billion in today's dollars. They were able to raise about 10% of the treasure before another storm halted the operation and scattered the treasure over a wide area. Pirates then attacked the salvage site and stole all that the Spanish had brought up. They did not try any further salvage as they had all the gold & silver in central and south America and this in the whole scheme of things, was a mere blip on the overall radar screen. They continued to lose a ship here and there but never on the scale of this 1715 fleet sinking. I saw where a gold coin from the same wreck went for over $9000 just this week that was wrapped in somewhat the same way. It was on eBay. I see these coins mostly in silver but an occasional gold 8 escuedos come up from time to time but it seems like they are showing themselves less and less the last 6-8 years. Those who have them don't seem to want to part with them. There is more to the story of this piece in particular but it would take me an hour to peck it all out on this keyboard. On eBay I have a store under the user name investor1908 and this in one of the some 200+ items I have there. If you're interested in reading more. I told a little different story as to how this piece and I came to be together but it's basically the same. Thanks for your interest. I think it's pretty neat or pretty sick as my teenage kids would say.
What in interesting story and how much treasures the oceans still hide!
Thank you Agram.m Your statement is very true. Thanks for taking a peek.
Great Story!! bahamaboy.
Thank you officialfuel. You have quite a few really cool items as well. thanks for taking a peek.
Your very welcome!