Spanish-American Colonial Coins
The treasure coins we use in our jewelry are silver and gold coins minted in the Americas, "The New World", for the kings of Spain. The coins, called cobs for their irregular shapes, were struck from the late 1500's to the mid 1700's in the mints of Mexico; Potosi, Bolivia; Lima, Peru; and Bogotá, Columbia.

The silver coins are called reales meaning royal or pertaining to the king. The largest coin was an eight real weighing approximately 27 grams of 90-93% pure silver and measuring 1 1/2-1 3/4" wide. Other denominations of four, two, one, and half reales were also minted. Each of these is half the weight, size, and value of the next larger coin. During the 17th century a common seaman was paid 2 eight reales a month.

The gold coins or escudos , referring to the shield on the coin, were minted in eight, four, two, and one denominations. Also known in treasure lore as doubloons, the eight escudo coins weighed approximately 27 grams and measured 1 1/2-1 3/4" wide. These coins were quite rare in relation to the silver cobs and were in the possession of only the rich.

All the coins were struck very crudely and irregularly in rustic mints by mostly unskilled Indians and slaves. The principal purpose of striking the coins was not for currency circulation, but as a way of assaying and cataloguing the bullion, before shipment to Spain.

With each new king, the old coins were melted along with the new bullion. New coins bearing the name of the present king were struck. The availability today of silver and gold cob coins from the colonial Spanish mints, is the result of two things; hoarding and shipwrecks.

Treasure Hoards
Many Spanish colonial coins, especially smaller denominations have been found buried throughout the Caribbean, South America, Central America, and as far away as China. The lack of banks and safe storage led people to bury coins in the ground or seal them up in walls of buildings. Through death, political unrest, or any number of reasons, the coins were lost or forgotten, only to be discovered centuries later, often in excellent condition.

Shipwrecks
From 1561 until 1750, with a few exceptions, two Spanish merchant fleets were sent each year to the New World. They were to return laden with the treasure of the Americas.

Gold, silver and gemstones from the mines and mints of Mexico and South America, as well as silks and porcelain from the Orient, were loaded in Caribbean ports for the long journey back to Spain. Not all of them made it back. Hostile governments, pirates, and hurricanes awaited them.

"Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion"
This galleon wrecked on the silver banks, 90 miles north of the Dominican Republic October 23, 1641. Loaded with mostly Mexican mint silver cobs, it had left Veracruz, Mexico July 23, 1641. The wreck was originally salvaged in 1687 by William Phips. Tons of silver were recovered and turned over to King James of England, who knighted Phips and made him governor of Massachusets. Two hundred and ninety one years later, the wreck was rediscovered by Burt Webber, using the log book of The Henry, Phips's ship. This salvage operation and those of subsequent expeditions, including Tracy Boden's present day work, have yielded thousands more coins, mostly of eight and four real denominations from the Mexican mints.

"Nuestra Senora de Atocha"
The Atocha, the Santa Margarita, and six other ships left Havana, Cuba September 4, 1622. A hurricane drove all the ships onto reefs in the Florida keys. After years of searching, famous treasure hunter Mel Fisher, found the mother load of treasure in July of 1985. The well publicized wreck has given up an amazing amount of treasure and rare artifacts; gold, silver, emeralds, jewelry, and cannons. The silver coins are eight, four, and two real denominations, from the Potosi, Bolivia mint for Phillip III and are graded I, II, III, and IV, IV being the poorest quality but still recognizeable.

The 1715 Fleet
The "Spanish Plate Fleet" of eleven ships sunk in a hurricane off the east coast of Florida in 1715 near the reefs and shores of Vero Beach and Fort Pierce. The salvage has been ongoing since the early 1960's. These wrecks have given up the most gold escudos of any wreck fround to date. Coins from many mints are represented.

The Lucayan Beach Treasure
Dutch pirate Piet Heyn attacked the Spanish fleet in Matanzas Bay, Cuba on May 20, 1628. The smaller and lighter Dutch ships easily overtook the heaily loaded Spanish galleons capturing tons of gold and silver intended for King Phillip IV of Spain. Returning to Holland with the plunder, two of the ships sank. They had struck a reef and sunk off the coast of Grand Bahama island, on what is known as Lucayan Beach. The recovered coins,eight and four reales minted before 1628(Assayer D), are excellent examples of Mexico's mint. Heyn did deliver enough of the treasure to the Dutch crown to allow the Dutch to gain their independence from Spain and netted Heyn a large reward. These coins offer a rare opportunity to own some of the few coins that are known pirate plunder.

"Nuestra Senora de La Luz(?)"
Salvaged in 1992 near Montevideo, Uruguay in the mouth of the River Plate. The exact name of this ship is uncertain. Beautiful four and eight portrait escudos dated 1749 and 1750 were found on this wreck. The coins were auctioned at Sotheby's in New York in 1993.