1715 Fleet Shipwreck - 4 Reales
$1,800
Denomination: 4 Reales
Reign: Philip V
Mint: Mexico
Assayer: Not Visible
Date: Not Visible
Mount: Sterling Silver with 18K gold prongs and bale.
Description: 4 Reales Spanish cob with environmental wear on both sides. Obverse: Particle Florenzada cross visible with lions and castles in visible in upper 2 quadrants. Reverse: Kings shield partially visible.
History: This is to certify that the coin here described was recovered from the Spanish Wreck site of the Spanish Flotilla that was lost in a hurricane of the coast of Florida on July 31st, 1715.
The 1715 Treasure Fleet was a Spanish Treasure Fleet returning from the New World to Spain. At two in the morning on Wednesday, July 31, 1715, seven days after departing from Havana Cuba under the command of Juan Esteban de Ubilla, eleven of the twelve ships of this fleet were lost in a hurricane near present-day Vero Beach, Florida.
Because the fleet was carrying silver, it is also known as the 1715 Plate Fleet (Plata being the Spanish word for silver) Some artifacts and even coins still wash up on Florida beaches from time to time. Around 1,500 (confirmed by Cuban records) sailors perished while a small number survived on lifeboats. Many ships, including pirates, took part in the initial salvage. Initially a privateer, Henry Jennings was first accused of piracy for attacking such salvage ships and claiming their salvages.
