$2,300
"The Shipwreck that changed the World"
Coin #1
Denomination: 1/2 Reales
Mint: Mexico
Date: 1780
Assayer: FF
Weight: 1.2 grams
Grade: Mint Plus
Mount: 14K gold ear rings
Coin #2
Denomination: 1/2 Reale
Mint: Mexico
Date: 1783
Assayer: FF
Weight: 1.4 gold ear ring
Grade: Mint
Description: Reverse: Between the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) are the two crowned Hemispheres of this world. Obverse: Bears a traditional bust of the King.
Mount: 14K gold ear rings set
History: This historic artifact was recovered from the Spanish Brigantine of War "El Cazador" (The Hunter) which was lost with all hands in stormy winter seas in the Gulf of Mexico, in January of 1784.
In 1762, Spain received Louisiana (which ran from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, comprising nearly a million square miles) from France as a result of the Seven Year War.
In late 1783, King Carolus III ordered Captain Gabriel de Campos y Pineda to Veracruz, Mexico. The El Cazador departed Veracruz for New Orleans on the 11th of January, 1784, carrying 450,000 pesos, never to be heard from again.
By 1800, Spain could no longer control colonial Louisiana, and was forced to cede it back to France. In 1803, the U.S. purchased Louisiana from Napoleon's France, thus doubling the size of the United States.
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