Lucayan Beach Wreck

We don't discuss this wreck often. Nice wrist watch shaped coin in Spinks auction box. Certainly not worth $700 though (at least to me). I'll find one I like some day....
http://cgi.ebay.com/1628-8-Reale-Si...rate-Treasure_W0QQitemZ320475408451

A liitle history from the Sedwick Coins site....
http://www.sedwickcoins.com/shipwreck_histories/lucayan.htm

Stan

A good old book on this treasure find can be had used on Amazon for about $8.00. Written by one of the finders, Jack Slack. I read it some time ago, but remember it being a story I could relate to....

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used

Stan

A 4 reale coin from the wreck....

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Reales-of-Mex...wreck-of-1628_W0QQitemZ230432150582

Stan

A 4 reale coin from the wreck....

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Reales-of-Mex...wreck-of-1628_W0QQitemZ230432150582

Stan

Stan, the seller refers to the "01 date mark".  I thought that was the assayer/mintmark.  Wouldn't the date be at 11:00 near the rim on such an example?

Stan, the seller refers to the "01 date mark".  I thought that was the assayer/mintmark.  Wouldn't the date be at 11:00 near the rim on such an example?

Yeah, it would be rare to ever see it on a 4 reale because if centered the die runs off of the typical planchet.

What he sees is the Mexican mint mark "O" over "M". The 1 is just a part of the "M".

Stan

what would be a fair price for that 4 reale coin? 

Sold for $282.75. A little high I thought, but good detail on the shield side. Four reale coins are the least minted denomination and therefor the rarest. Four reales is kind of an awkward denomination for a coin, similar to a 50 cent piece when we are used to dealing with quarters and dollar bills. Hence there was a lesser demand for them at the time.

Stan