Atocha Shipwreck Coin Authentic Piece of Eight 8R Pirate Sunken Treasure Pendant

Description

Nuestra Senora De Atocha
, the Most Famous of All Shipwrecks
The
Authentic
"Atocha"
Shipwreck coin pictured is the one you will receive.  This is a handstruck 8 Reales, Grade Two coin set into a handcrafted solid 14K gold pendant bezel. Your purchase will include the
Genuine and Original, Mel Fisher's Treasures, L.L.C. Certificate of Authenticity
, a collectible and out of print booklet published by the American Numismatic Association with a lot of great information about the "Atocha" Shipwreck and Salvage, a velvet pouch, polishing cloth and gift box.
On September 6, 1622, the heavily laden treasure galleon of King Philip IV's Tierra Firme Fleet, the
Nuestra Senors De Atocha
, struck  a reef in a raging storm near the Florida Keys.  More than two hundred and sixty persons perished and tons of gold, silver, and other precious cargo were lost to the sea.  Mel Fisher's Treasure Salvors, Inc., after a 16-year search marked by tragedy and hardship, located and began salvaging the rich treasure of the "Atocha" on July 20th 1985.
Most of the coins recovered from the "Atocha" were minted in the New World and have irregular shapes.  They were made by cutting coin blanks from crudely cast bars of refined silver bullion; then clipped to the requisite weight for the denomination, heated, and hand-hammered between crudely engraved dies.  The rough surface and irregular circumference of the blanks prevented well defined strikes; consequently the legends are frequently missing or only partially visible.  The Spanish authorities were unconcerned with the shape of the coins or visible dates.
They made them in denominations of 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and 8 Reales and they were called
"Pieces of Eight"
or Cob coins (meaning end of the bar)
.
This is a genuine historical heirloom to treasure and wear with pride!