THE COINS OF SUNKEN TREASURE SHIPS
Santa Margarita, wrecked 1622.
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
BOLIVIA - COLONIAL |
| Design Description: |
Shield & Cross |
| Item Description: |
8R (1598-1621) P PHILIP III SANTA MARGARITA |
| Full Grade: |
NGC VF Details |
| Owner: |
oldgoatsboats |
Owner Comments:
DESCRIPTION
Date: 1596-1621
RULER: Philip III
ASSAYER: Not Visible
WEIGHT: 23.2g.
Full cross (interesting lions) and shield, nicely toned, minimal corrosion but somewhat crude overall. The coinage of the period 1598-1621 is known for low quality strikings.
THE 1622 SHIPWRECK OF THE SPANISH GALLEON SANTA MARGARITA
On September 6, 1622, the heavily laden galleon of King Philip IV's Terra Firme Fleet, grounded and broke up in a raging hurricane near the Florida Keys. More than one hundred, twenty persons and her entire cargo of silver, gold and precious items were lost to the sea. It was sunk west of Key West, Florida from the same hurricane-stricken 1622 Fleet as the Atocha. The Santa Margarita sank on a reef within sight of the Atocha and was found in 1626 by Spanish salvagers, who only recovered roughly half it's treasure. The other half was found by Mel Fisher and company in 1980. Margarita's treasures were similar to those found on the Atocha, yet with fewer coins in comparatively worse condition overall.