Davy Jones Locker
Reijgersdaal, sunk in 1747 offSouth Africa
View Image Gallery >
Coin Details
Origin/Country: |
MEXICO - TO 1823 |
Item Description: |
8R 1743MO MF |
Full Grade: |
NGC AU Details |
Owner: |
jim hawkins |
Owner Comments:
Mexico 8 Reales - 1743MO MF - from the Reijgersdaal, sunk in 1747 off South Africa..
this typical East Indiaman was carrying eight chests of silver coins (nearly 30,000 coins) when she sank on October 25,1747, between Robben and Dassen Islands. After four-and-a-half months at sea,the crew had anchored there to fetch rock rabbits (“dassies,” for whichDassen Island was named) and other fresh food to relieve massive illness onboard the ship, on which some 125 had died and 83 were incapacitated out of 297people; but in the face of a gale, the anchor-line snapped and the ship foundered on the rocks. Only 20 survived the sinking,