La Capitana Shipwreck - 4 Reales - Crowned "O" - Assayer "E" (last shield design)
$5,800
Shipwreck: La Capitana - Sank off Chanduy, Ecuador in 1654
Denomination: 4 Reales
Mint: Potosi, Bolivia
Assayer: Antonio de Erqueta - last shield design
Date: Not Visible (1651 Last shield design for assayer "E"
Weight: 11.74g
Grade: NGC 6979766-010
Mount: Skull and Crossbones. Sterling bezel and skull with 14K X-bones, bail and prongs. 1733 Copper sheathing eyepatch.
Description: 4 Reales Cob coin. Obverse: Clearly struck greek cross with lions and castles in all quadrants. Two crown marks. Crowned "O" (Type H, Rarity R1) 25 to 50 coins of this type. Also crowned with second mark ARMS. Reverse: Full shield boldly struck. Denomination 4 visible with Assayer "E" below.
History: La Capitana sank in October of 1654 off the coast of Chanduy, Ecuador. The 1,200- ton Spanish galleon was the largest built in Colonial America during the 17th Century, and the flagship of the Viceroyalty of Peru; and the South Sea Armada. This ship was commissioned to to carry Spanish Coins including the Potosi Mint scandal coins, the subsequent countermark coins and many others dated from 1649 to 1654. The galleon, overburdened with unregistered goods, which many say contributed to its sinking. In testimony from crew members; it was said that they could not even lower the anchors because there was so much treasure stacked on the anchor cables. At least 20 people died in their attempt to swim ashore.
All attempts to find the shipwreck failed until the location was made by Sub-America Discoveries, INC in November of 1996.