La Capitana Shipwreck - 8 Reales
$4,650
Denomination: 8 Reales
Assayer: "E" Antonio de Erqueta (1652-1679)
Weight: 21.02 g
Mint: Potosi, Peru
Reign: Carlos II
Date: 1652
Grade: NGC AU Details (6680042-011)
Mount: Sterling Silver with 14K Bale and Prongs.
Note: The Type A shield design was only around for 11 months before being replaced by the Greek Cross design in 1652
Description: Transitional Type IV/A. NGC AU details. Darkly toned and corroded. Obverse: Type A, with clear (A)P-8 to left and O-E-52 to right of full shield. This shield design lasted for less than a year before the Mint reverted back to the Greek Cross design. Reverse: Bold full pillars with full crown above, F-8-IIII across top and E-8-E across middle.
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 Vice Royalty of Peru, and the South Sea Armada. This ship was commissioned 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.
CAP-257
