Shipwreck Spanish Colonial Bust-Type 8 Reales

I attached better photos of the encrusted Spanish Colonial coins from a previous thread. I believe they were recovered in the Caribbean near Cuba.

 

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I am interested if there are any experts here for this. We talk a lot about "can you imagine who may have held this coin". With these the history is several fold in my opinion. They were minted, loaded onto a ship, the ship sunk for one reason or another, many lives were most likely lost, they sat on the ocean floor for hundreds of years, and then either a treasure hunter or a guy walking down the beach after a storm found them. These have a lot of history for sure!

 

In the vein of "even a blind dog finds a bone occasionally".... That is exactly what happened for me almost thirty years ago. Parts of the Carolina coast offer up treasures from days past when these hurricanes blow through. Even at my age I get lost in the history when I hold this one.

 

I can't really tell if coins brought me to loving history, or loving history brought me to coins. They're too intermingled in my spirit. Then again, it could have been my 8th grade history teacher, Ms. Smith. LOVED her class.

 

I use the term "expert" loosely. Even an expert learns something new everyday... or they should. I was looking for someone that could add input.

 

Well, as @GDJMSP points out, I am not an expert, but my main interest with coins are 8 reales, so you can ask...

Here https://moneditis.com/tag/8-reales/ lots of information about, mainly in spanish

 

Based on the photos what can you tell me about them? I believe that was also the point of the OP original thread which he refers to.

 

Yes, I posted the photos to open up a discussion about these "clumps" of coins that were likely recovered in Caribbean waters. I have virtually no experience with coins recovered by treasure hunters, metal detectors, etc. Unfortunately, the coins were not purchased with any certificates attached to a specific shipwreck. I was only told by the seller that they were recovered in Caribbean waters. From the photos, Sedwick was able to tell me that they are Bust-Type 8 Reales likely from either the Cazador 1783 or Leocadia 1800. Unfortunately, Sedwick is currently working on a large project. So, I would not receive a formal appraisal from them for quite some time.

With that information, I am curious about were I can submit them for certification and their approximate value. I am also wondering if they should be conserved or if they should remain in their current state. I simply bought these because I liked them in hand. The photos do not do them justice! As @ilmcoins mentioned, the history behind these coins could be amazing. It is my hope that we can piece together a timeline with input from our "non-expert" members. I appreciate any information you can offer and respect your knowledge at any level.

 

Start with diameter of coins. I think you have a loose one, please post good pics, diameter and weight.

 

@BlackBeard_Thatch was a wealth of info to me when I posted my coin. He was even able to help narrow my coin down to a possible shipwreck near St Helena island off the Carolina coast. Alas he is off serving our nation now..... Sedwick is the recognized expert. I wonder if you could Google the shipwrecks he mentioned at start piecing a puzzle together from there?

 

The 6 coins I purchased are in 2 clumps of 3 coins. The weight would include 3 coins plus the attached coral/rock. The diameter is approximately the same as an Eisenhower dollar. I don’t have any single coins. Please see the attached photo. Thank you for your comments.

 

I would leave them as they are - way too many "shipwreck" coins on the market, and they are over priced. You won't be able to identify the ship they came from, and keeping them as they are proves they were lost treasure.
As far as value, worth a bit, but not a lot. Talking hundreds, not thousands.

According to your dimensions, these would be 8 reales. You may be able to see a date or mint mark on one.

 

http://www.icollector.com/El-Cazado...p-1784-RARE-Spanish-Silver-8-Reales_i10110306

 

Not much one can say about them without better pictures, which would be difficult since they are fused into a solid block.

However, it is obvious these are from the Spanish New World mints, more than likely Mexico City, and that they are of the 'newer' style, ie not the 'Dos Mundos' type.
That means they are from the reign of Carlos III, Carlos IV or Ferdinand VII.
The newer type was coined as of 1773 approx.

Since you have them in-hand, you should be able to make out the mint where the coins were struck. This is located on the peripheral legend left of the base of the Column on reverse (Pillars of Hercules).



Mexico City mint is abbreviated Mo (with small O over the M), Lima, Peru is LMAE in ligature, Potosi, Alto Peru (Bolivia) is PTS in ligature, Santiago, Chile is So (small O on top of S).
Again, since you have the lumps in-hand, turn them over and see if you can see the portrait of the king.

Treasure coins are exciting. I was very lucky to be able to buy this 8 escudos recovered of the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de la Luz which sank of Montevideo on the River Plate on its way to Spain, around 1752. Some of the treasure was salvaged in 1992 and auctioned by Sothebys. Most of the 'Peluconas' (8 escudo coins) recovered from the wreck were struck at the Spanish colonial mint of Santiago in 1750 and 1751.




8 Escudos from the wreck of the Nuestra Senora de la Luz:

 

Times like this I hate that my memory has departed...... The ancients guys use a product to conserve their coins and prevent further degradation. For the life of me I cannot think of the product but have purchased a coin that had the treatment. The coin appears to almost have a waxy coating on them. Would something like that stop the salt from doing further damage to his coins?

 

If broken apart, would the conservation efforts of a TPG stop the deterioration? What would be the best DIY method of conservation after breaking apart the coins and removing the encrustation?