temp. Charles & Johanna "Golden Fleece Shipwreck" gold "Finger" Bar of 689.74gm ND (c. 1550), 202x25x15mm. 689.74gm. Marked with fineness XVII-dot-dot (17-1/2K). XRF scan: 17.7K. A relic from the early colonial era, this substantial gold ingot captivates with its matte yet subtly gleaming golden tones. Nearly intact, it features two clear stamps and a cut end—a typical feature of such bars when gold was not yet minted into coins, and pieces were chiseled off for use as currency. Traces of coral encrustation bear witness to over 400 years spent submerged beneath the Caribbean Sea. Few complete gold bars were recovered from the Golden Fleece shipwreck, with most of the bullion found as cut fragments, making this a highly coveted treasure. 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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