La Nuestra Senora de Atocha, constructed in Havana Harbor, left the port of Havana on September 4, 1622, after much delay in construction. She was one of twenty-eight vessels in the Terre Firme Fleet, heading to Spain with trade goods and treasure. On the Fifth of September, disaster struck as Northeast winds from a massive hurricane scattered the Fleet 60 miles North of the coast of Cuba.
Treasures of the Atocha and her sister ship, the Santa Margarita, went undiscovered until July of 1985, though Spain attempted a salvage immediately after the wreck occurred.
An estimated $450,000,000.00 worth of Spanish treasure was recovered by Mel Fisher and his team of divers in the mid-to-late eighties, though a large portion of the remaining treasure has yet to be found, according to the ship's manifest.
The Atocha is widely known as the "greatest treasure ever found," in terms of overall value and difficulty of salvage. The treasures recovered on the Atocha vary from gold and silver coins that were minted in the New World Spanish colonies, Colombian Emeralds from the famed Muzo Mine, and handcrafted treasures intended for the King and Queen of Spain, Noblemen, and Clergy.
Coins from the Atocha are known by collectors as "cobs," a loose translation of "Cabo de Barra", or "End of the Bar", referring to the technique in which these handmade coins were created. They are crude, and irregular on the edges, though some of the first coins minted in the New World were exquisitely created by indigenous artisans trained in the Spanish style.
$21,000
Denomination: 2 Reales Reign: Philip II Mint: Lima Assayer: "D" - Diego de la Torre (1577-1588) Weight: 6.20 g Date: Never Dated Grade: 1 Mount: 14K gold (brushed). 6 white diamonds...
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Denomination: 2 Reales Mint: Potosi Assayer: "A" 1586-1590 Juan Alvarez Reinaltes Reign: Philip II Weight: 6.40 grams Grade: One (1) Date: Never Dated Mount: 14K gold with .92 ctw Emeralds on the...
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Denomination: 2 Reales Reign: Philip III Mint: Potosi Assayer: NV Weight: 6.7g Date: Not Visible Grade: One Mount: 14K gold bezel. The skull prongs are made with...
View full product details$8,945
Denomination: 4 Reales Reign: Philip II Mint: Potosi Assayer: "B" Juan de Ballesteros - early - (1577-1586) Weight: 13.10 grams Date: NV Grade: One Mount: 14K Mermaid accented with Sapphires. Sterling...
View full product details$8,767
Denomination: 2 Reales Mint: Potosi Assayer: "B" 1576-1586 Date: Never Dated Weight: 5.83 gm Mount: 18K Gold with Diamond accents History: On September 6, 1622, the heavily laden treasure...
View full product details$8,500
Denomination: 8 RealesReign: Philip III Mint: PotosiAssayer: On certificate as "M" Weight: 24.10 gramsDate: Fully dated 1617Grade: Two Mount: 14K Gold History: On September 6, 1622, the heavily laden treasure galleon of King Philip IV's...
View full product details$6,800
Denomination: 2 Reales Reign: Philip III Mint: Potosi Assayer: "Q" (1612-1616) - Augusta de la Quadra Weight: 4.20 Date: never dated Grade: 2 Mount: 14k Gold, 3ct Emeralds ...
View full product details$6,600
Denomination: 4 Reales Denomination: 4 Reales Reign: Philip III Mint: Mexico Assayer: not visible Weight: 11.7 g Date: Partial #618 Grade: Grade 2 History: On September 6, 1622, the heavily laden treasure galleon...
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Denomination: 8 Reales Reign: Philip III Mint: Potosi Assayer: "R" Weight: 25.3 g Date: Not Visible Grade: Two (2) Mount: 14K Gold. Filagree hand engraving on the Bale and Prongs....
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Denomination: 4 Reales Mint: Mexico Assayer: NV Weight: 8.98 grams Date: NV Grade: 2 Mount: 14K Gold Description: Obverse: Clear Florenza Cross visible with REX visible in upper quadrant. Reverse:...
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Denomination: 8 Reales Grade: Two (2) Mint: Potosi, Bolivia Assayer: "R" (1590-1615) Balastar Ramos Leceta Reign: King Philip III Weight: 21.10 gm Date: Not Visible...
View full product details$5,100
Denomination: 8 Reales Reign: Philip III Mint: Potosi Assayer: "R" (1610-1612) Balastar Ramos Leceta (Large curved "R") Weight: 24.7 grams Date: Not Visible Grade: Three (3) History: On September 6, 1622,...
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Denomination: 8 Reales Reign: Phillip III Mint: Potosi Assayer: Not Visible Grade: Two (2) Weight: 18.38 gm Date: Not Visible 80M-8165
View full product details$4,200
Denomination: 8 Reales Reign: Philip III Mint: Potosi Assayer: NV(T) Weight: 14.7g Date: Not visible Grade: Three Mount: Sterling Silver with 14K Prongs and Bale. History: On September 6, 1622, the...
View full product details$3,500
Denomination: 8 Reales Grade: 3 Mint: Potosi, Bolivia Assayer: Not Visible Reign: King Philip III Weight: 21.10 gm Date: Not Visible History: On September 6, 1622,...
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