MEXICO: Felipe IV, 1621-1665, cob AR 4 reales (10.81g), KM-37, darkly toned all over, with original Spink box, labeled "Lucayan Beach Pirate Treasure 1628 " atop, and small certificate, Fine. Since the accidental discovery in 1964 of around 10,000 silver cobs (dated up to and including 1628) in 10 feet of water just 1,300 yards from the Lucayan Beach Hotel, the mystery of identifying the lost vessel has never been solved. Because of the date, popular opinion associates the wreck with the taking of the Spanish 1628 Fleet in Matanzas Bay, Cuba by the Dutch admiral and privateer Piet Heyn, who reported losing two of the vessels on the way back to Europe. Three names proposed for the ship(s) by various sellers over the years were the Van Lynden, the Santa Gertrude (or Gertrudis) and the Romario, with scant evidence to support the attributions. Practically all the coins have been Mexican 8 and 4 reales of the assayer D period (Diego de Godoy 1618-1634).

Estimate: USD 100-150