Grade 1 Atocha 8 Reales with COA and Flip

Grade 1 Atocha Shipwreck 8 Reales with COA and Flip

Item #CC-0075 | Grade 1 Atocha Shipwreck 8 Reales with COA and Flip
Mint: Potosi, Bolivia
Assayer: Not Visible
Ruler/Period: King Philip III
Grade: Uncertified
Weight: 24.1 Grams

Description: This beautiful “Piece of Eight” was recovered from the famous Nuestra Señora de Atocha shipwreck by Mel Fisher and his team in 1985. The Atocha was a Spanish treasure galleon of a fleet of ships that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. It was a heavily armed ship that served as the almirante (rear guard) for the Spanish fleet and would trail behind the other ships in the flotilla to prevent an attack from the rear. At the time of her sinking, the Atocha was heavily laden with copper, silver, gold, tobacco, gems, and indigo from Spanish ports at Cartagena and Porto Bello in New Granada (present-day Colombia and Panama, respectively) and Havana, bound for Spain.

During the salvage and recovery of the Atocha treasure, Mel Fisher’s team gave this coin a grade 1, which was based on its superb details and level of preservation. The coin you see here comes complete with its original 2×2 flip card and original certificate of authenticity attributing it to the Atocha shipwreck. For more information on the Atocha shipwreck, click on this link.

Grade one 8 reales from the Atocha are highly sought after and perfect for any collector of shipwreck treasure or Spanish Colonial coinage.