Charles & Johanna "Golden Fleece Shipwreck" gold cut "Finger" Bar of 53.37gm ND (c. 1550), 30x25x13mm 53.37m. XRF scan: 20K. An enchanting piece cut from the end of a larger ingot and bearing the full XX stamp for 20K. One can still appreciate the bits of coral encrustation from the nearly 450 years under the seas. At this time, gold was not yet struck in coins, thus why larger ingots were chiseled/cut into smaller bits for change in trade. 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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