Shipwreck of the Santa Maria de la Consolation (Isla del Muertos) - 1 Reales - Presented in a custom Sterling Silver Ring.

Denomination:  1 Reales                    

Dated: Not Visible       

Assayer: Not Visible

Reign: Carlos II                                 

Mint: Potosi         

Mount: Custom Sterling Silver ring

Description: This coin was recovered from the wreck site of the Santa Maria de la Consolacion located near Santa Clara Island in the Guld of Guayaquil Ecuador. Santa Clara Island is also known as “el Muertos” by the locals. Some say because from a distance the island looks like a dead man on his back; others say it is because the pirates beheaded the crew of the Consolacion on the island. The Shipwreck of the Santa Maria de la Consolacion was discovered by ROBCAR in 1997. The company has had the official Ecuadorian salvage lease for the wreck site continuously, since that time. Shortly after the wreck was discovered, marine archeologist Robert F. Marx discovered documents and a ship’s manifest in the archives of Spain which identified the wreck.

History: The Consolacion purportedly sank near Santa Clara Island while evading pirated in 1681.  She was carrying 146,000 pesos in minted silver coins along with 800 silver bars, and gold ingots valued at 34,000 pesos.  The Consolacion was reportedly torched by the crew after they ran aground near Santa Clara Island.  This greatly angered the pirates since they were unable to recover any of her treasures, and the story goes that they beheaded the crew as punishment.  The Silver and gold from the New World waw sent to Spain in the form of “Cob” coins from the 1500’s until the mid 1700’s.  The cob coins were crudely made coins which were produced by hand.  Thus, no two “Cob” coins are alike, which is part of the reason there are so many enthusiastic collectors.  Silver “Cobs” were produced in 6 denominations: 8-Reales, 4-Reales, 2-Reales, 1-Reales, ½ Reales, and 1/4- Reales. Gold “Cobs” were produced in 4 denominations: 8 Escudos, 4 Escudos, 2 Escudos, and 1 Escudos.  The 8-Reales and 8 Escudos coins were supposed to weigh 27.0674 grams, and each subsequent denomination should weigh exactly half of the next larger denomination. Cob coins were produced in various mints in South America.

ID14195