Lot 2542

Description

Mexico, Philip V, (1700-1724, 1724-1746), gold cob eight escudos, 1714, Mexico City mint assayer J (Jose Eustaqio de Leon), (27.0 grams), obv. arms, left field o/M/J, right field VIII, rev. plain Jerusalem cross in quadrilobe tressure, lis in angles, (KM.57.2, F.6, cf.Cal.144). Good very fine with full date, value and mint letters, rare thus.

Ex Baldwin's Auction Sale 24 9-10th October 2000 (lot 288), previously from H. Schulman, New York Sale 1972 and a sea salvage coin from the 1715 Florida Treasure Fleet Wrecks. The lot includes the National Geographic magazine of January 1965 with the article on 'Drowned Galleons off Florida Yield Spanish Gold' by Kip Wagner. It illustrates many of these coins recovered from these wrecks. Most of the coins that had dates were dated predominately 1713 and 1714. This reverse is typical of the 1714 issues. Mel Fisher was also a major salver, and with Kip Wagner was responsible for various films and TV documentaries that were made on this fleet wreck during the 1960's-1970's.