temp. Charles & Johanna "Golden Fleece Shipwreck" gold "Finger" Bar of 782.45gm ND (c. 1550), 198x25x12mm. 782.45gm. Marked with fineness XIX-dot (19-1/4K). A testimony to the early colonial days, this hefty survivor brightens the spectator with matte and yet glistening golden hues. This nearly-full ingot presents three full stamps and a cut end, common for these bars since gold was not yet produced in traditional coin format, leading to bits being chiseled away from larger bars to be used as coinage. Minor coral incrustation attests to 400+ years of submergence under the Caribbean sea. Only a few complete gold bars were recovered from the Golden Fleece shipwreck, with most of the gold bullion found in cut fragments of bars, making this a very desirable survivor. According to consignor, salvaged from the Golden Fleece shipwreck The Golden Fleece shipwreck is a vessel in the northern Caribbean nicknamed for a royal stamping, known as Golden Fleece, that was found on several of the gold 'finger' ingots and coins. A few dozen of these gold and silver ingots were salvaged with varying purities, reminiscent of the famous "tumbaga" bars. Significantly, it is believed that the Golden Fleece ingots are the only known examples made in the colonies between the "tumbaga" era of the 1520s and the ones found on the 1554 Padre Island Fleet. Almost all the recovered coins are Mexican Carlos-Juana silver pieces (all assayers prior to S) apart from some extremely rare Santo Domingo pieces. Notably, three examples of the very first 8 Reales ever struck in the New World were found - the Rincón "Early Series" 8 Reales of 1538. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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