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On July 31, 1715, a savage hurricane swept across the Bahamas Channel from the
northeast, catching in its path the Spanish treasure fleet on its way from
Havana to Spain. It was a disaster to the fleet and to the King of Spain Phillip
V. His fortunes rose and fell with the arrival or loss of the fleet. He often
faced bankruptcy.
This fleet was very important because it was the first fleet leaving the new
world in four years. It carried an accumulation of gold & silver coins and
bullion from the New World mints.
There were twelve vessels, five of these from General Ubilla's Nueva España
fleet, six of General Echeverz and a French vessel. The French vessel
accompanied the fleet back to Spain for protection and was the only one that
survived. The rest of the fleet disintegrated on the jagged coral reefs of
Florida between Fort Pierce and Sebastian Inlet.
Over seven hundred lives were lost, including General Ubilla, and millions in
gold and silver was scattered over the beaches and reefs a few hundred yards
offshore. There was a salvage effort by the Spanish, but when their work was
done, a great quantity of treasure remained undiscovered. One of the survivors,
Captain Sebastian Mendez, the pilot of Nuestra Senora del Carmen, spoke of "A
hurricane that came on from the east-northeast so strongly that although he has
sailed the seas for many years and suffered through many tempests he has never
seen another like it for violence, and his ship and all the rest were lost . .
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About this piece: One of the most
desirable coins from the 1715 Fleet is a dated 1715 Mexican eight Reales.
Although many Mexican eight Reales were recovered from the Fleet, less than 2%
show legible dates. While this coin does not show the final digit of the date,
several things allow us to be sure that it is a 1715 issue. The wide spacing of
the digits is not found before 1715, the high position of the 7 is not found on
any other Fleet dates, and the coin die-matches a four-digit date 1715 coin
(#838) in Schulman’s legendary Spanish Galleon Treasure Sale of November, 1972.
Dr. Alan Craig writes in his excellent study of the silver coinage recovered
from the 1715 Fleet, “collectors have been accustomed to long and often
disappointing searches for dated specimens.” [Spanish Silver Coins in the
Florida Collection, page 77]. Rarity plus intense competition for especially the
1715 issues have made owning a Fleet 1715 Mexican eight Reales a real challenge
for most collectors. At auction some specimens touch or exceed the four digits
in very active bidding. Private sales are few and far between. If you wish to
own a 1715 Mexican eight Reales do not let this opportunity go by, this
excellent piece has an excellent pedigree, and was acquired from one of the most
knowledgeable and exquisite collectors of 1715 Fleet silver pieces, Frank Noga
from Shipwreck Treasure Catalog Company.
- This specific piece comes with a Photo-certificate issued by Historic Real
Treasures, signed by Augi Garcia, Numismatists, Author of the Macuquina Code.
2006.
Some extras included along with this piece will be:
- The Macuquina Code Numismatic and Spanish Translator by Augi Garcia - Signed.
- Shipwrecks Near Wabasso Beach by Weller & Richards - Signed
- Shipwrecks and their Coins by Ernie Richards Vol. #3 - Signed.
Piece details: 8 Reales - dated 171(5) - Weight 27.01 grams - Very scarce date
on this spectacular Uncirculated quality.
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