From the shipwreck of the Atocha in 1764, weighing apprx 239.40 troy oz. Measures apprx 13" x 4" x 2". Top marked IIUCCXXX for the silver fineness ), IIIUDXLI for the tally number founded at the Potosi mint in the year 1622. Throughout marked with Spanish markings and owners mark "R". Back of bar has numbers "4842" and "85". Approximately six to eight billion dollars of gold and silver were mined in Spains American Colonies (Florida). Much of the New World bullion went directly into foreign hands in return for the luxuries dear to the nobility. On September 5th 1622, the Atocha carrying a cargo of gold bars, emeralds, personal jewelry, along with hundreds of thousands of treasure coins to Spain went down in a hurricane off the coast of Florida along with it's sister ship the Margarita. This site was found and excavated by Mel Fisher over a period of 16 years.
Approximately over one thousand silver bars were listed on the ship's manifest. Most of these were the property of individuals. Many of the bars were mined and processed in upper Peru. Each ingot was poured into a mold and struck with the serial number, which would be listed on the ships manifest. The assayer would then remove his "bite" to attest to the purity of the silver. The ingot was then struck with a "Ley", or finennes number. Each bar was subject to 20% tax and was struck with the tax seal indicating the tax had been paid. Monograms and designs indicated the owner or shipper are also sometimes found on such bars. Various other marks of unknown origin were made by various handlers and shippers, recording their transaction with the item.
5,000/8,000 Sold $5,750.00
back to catalog
