Gold Cobs from the Florida shipwrecks of the 1715 Fleet & other New World wrecks. Mint state non-shipwreck Spanish Colonial gold and silver coins from Lima, Mexico City, Cuzco, Bogotá, Cartagena, and other mints. Gold & silver ingots from 16th & 17th Spanish and VOC wrecks.

 

 

Colombian gold cobs

(1715 Fleet, Maravillas)

 

Cartagena gold cobs

 

 Lima 8 escudos 

from 1715 Fleet and later

(new

Lima 2 & 4 escudos

from the 1715 Fleet

 

Mexican 8 escudos

from the 1715 Fleet

 

Mexican 4, 2, 1 escudos

from the 1715 Fleet

 

Mesuno (1636) gold cobs

(new mint state NGCs)

 

Portrait 8 escudos

(Nuestra Senora de la Luz)

 

 Portrait 8 Reales

    (new page)

       

 

 Shipwreck US Gold

S.S. New York , S.S. Republic, S.S. Central America, S.S. Brother Jonathon.  New listings!

 

  Scarce 20C variety, PQ MS63

   Original box and cert,  sold

 

From the SS Republic

 

Shipwreck US Gold

  

Treasure Sale catalogues

 

Sample Certificate

 

Fleet Gold Cob book

 

Services we offer

 

Contact Us

 

Getting started: some

recommended books

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (Images on this site are best viewed at a luminance of 250 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 500:1. Viewing at a higher luminance & contrast will make the images seem badly overlite and the text yellow instead of gold. Please adjust your monitors. Email me for help if you are having trouble.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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©2007 Goldcobs.com All Rights Reserved.

 

Welcome to Goldcobs.com! 

 

Last update:  July, 2010                                                                                         en Espanol

    

      Goldcobs.com is committed to offering you the finest Spanish Colonial escudos and reales.

We are internationally recognized experts in the New World gold cobs recovered from the Florida shipwrecks of the 1715 Fleet. We also maintain a selection of choice escudos and

reales from other important New World shipwrecks such as Nuestra Senora de la Luz, Maravillas,  and Mesuno.

    If shipwreck coins are not to your liking, we offer exceptional mint state portrait 8 escudos, and  portrait 8 realesThis Mexico 1744/3 8 escudos, one of the finest quality

Philip V portrait onzas known, is a recent listing. Please scroll down to see all our latest offerings, or follow the navigation at the left for more complete listings.    

    Current highlights include several choice dated Bogotá two escudos listed here, including 1715 Fleet, Maravillas,  and Mesuno coins. Gold from Nuestra Senora de la Luz is here.

    Those of you who come from collecting US silver dollars might want to look at our

high-grade  Portrait 8 reales look here. Several new 8 reales are just listed including this gorgeous prooflike 1774 Potosi pictured below. This series is currently one of the most undervalued in Spanish Colonials. Many collectors are just discovering the rarity and beauty

of this short-lived 18th century coinage.

     In 2009 we introduced a page devoted to the remarkable recent deepwater recoveries of

19th century US gold coins. In 2010 we hope to expand our coverage of US gold recovered

from the S.S. New York, S.S. Republic, S.S. Brother Jonathon, and S.S. Central America.

    We at Gold Cobs want to educate you about the coins that you are interested it. We will

show you the best photos our modest photographic skills permit and give you in-depth, comprehensive descriptions of the coins and their history. Take you time and feel free to ask questions. This is not one of those frantic, buyer beware auction site! Please explore our site. Whether you are an advanced collector hunting rarities, or someone just beginning to

plan his collection, there are some things that we hope will interest you.

    Please feel free to contact us regarding any item currently listed or with your want list.         terravitan@aol.com or 480-595-1293. 

 

1. GOLD COBS: 

        

  

   Ø   this 1715 Fleet Lima four escudos, one of two known. NGC 1715 Fleet AU 58. SOLD

               

  

   

 

     Ø  this lustrous, beautifully struck Fleet Lima 1712 M eight escudos. NGC has pronounced

          it a "1715 Spanish Fleet AU 58", but there is no actual wear on the cross or pillar high

          points and the luster is obviously mint state. Available here. 

         

 

   Ø    this NGC MS 63 Mexico 1713 MoJ, one of the finest from the 1715 Fleet. SOLD

                             

              

   Ø     These choice Fleet mint state Mexico 17(14) one and two escudos, NGC MS 64 or 65

           with the endorsement "1715 Plate Fleet". Available.

 

   Ø     this  lustrous, mint state Mexico 1699-1700 one escudo from the 1715 Fleet. A very

          large, sharply struck Charles II shield is clearly struck from a 1699 two escudos die.

          Unique error. This issue also shows an early box cross design, struck at Mexico City

          (1695-1710). Near perfect centering on both side.

          NGC certified "1715 Plate Fleet MS 62".  $2850      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     

 

            

  Ø these 1715 Fleet Bogota two escudos, 1705 and 1707. The 1705 is choice mint state

     coin, the 1707 is rare Fleet date displaying a bold 707 date. It is the best 1707 Bogie

     I have seen and the Calico Plate coin. Both were purchased by Calico from Real 8

     for the famous Caballeros Collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

         

 

 

 

 

 

    

  Ø These Mexico one and two escudos from the Fleet .NGC MS 64. Available

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Ø  these choice mint state Bogies from the Mesuno wreck (1636), graded and

          certified by NGC as from the "Mesuno Treasure."

 

 

  2. PORTRAIT  SPANISH COLONIAL EIGHT ESCUDOS (1732-1824)

 

 

 

  

   Ø Special item: NGC MS 63 Mexico 1744/3 MF, 8 escudos. Very rare, choice uncirculated Philip V Mexican 8 escudos. Any Philip V Mexican onza (1732-47) in choice uncirculated is a major rarity. This onza is also a discovery coin: the 1744/3 overdate is unlisted in Calico's LA ONZA or in NUMISMATICA ESPANOLA (2008).  Sharply struck and choice uncirculated, encapsulated as MS 63 by NGC (no others at this grade or higher). An exceptional example of a Philip V portrait onza in mint state. In January 2009 Heritage auctioned a more common date 1743 in MS 62 for $32,200. Available. More photos and information here.

 

 

We are trying to expand our offerings of high-quality Portrait escudos from the Spanish Americas, but exceptional pieces are very hard to find. Our emphasis in these series has  always been on quality, reflecting a personal preference for highly lustrous, well struck, and uncirculated coins. The gold and silver issues you will find offered are all NGC/PCGS certified and grade choice uncirculated or among the finest known. No merely average, no low grade, no damaged, no ex-jewelry coins will ever appear on this site. While some collectors do not like to see their most prized coins sealed in plastic ("slabbed"), it is my sense of the marketplace that many collectors of portrait onzas and reales, especially those just beginning to form their collections, would like the added assurance of some 3rd party authentication & grading. Those who do not like their coins in plastic can of course easily “disencapsulate” them. 

 

 

   

Ø    this  Santiago 8 escudos, Ferdinand VI, 1751 J, An absolutely spectacular deep prooflike, choice mint state eight escudos, without question  one of the finest Santiago 1751's recovered from Nuestra Senora de la Luz. Graded MS64 by NGC but worth another point or two. Look at

the strike! One of the most attractive Spanish Colonial onzas I have ever seen. Price on request.

   
 

3. PORTRAIT 8 REALES

 

Our Portrait 8 reales are here.  We are specializing in the highest quality pieces, especially choice mint state eight reales with strong prooflike fields.  Collectors are just beginning to appreciate the beauty and great rarity of these dollar-size Spanish Colonial issues that were the main circulating currency in the US until the 1850's. I recommend to your attention the 1774 Potosi pictured below, and a superb Lima 1807, coin PR11, ridiculously undergraded as a MS63.

 

Ø    Potosi. 8 reales. 1774. From the Aymara Hoard. A lucky survivor of the massacres that depopulated El Peru in 1780. NGC MS 63 and obviously deep prooflike. Available, details here.

 

      

4. US SHIPWRECK GOLD AND SILVER

    We have a very active inventory of choice US gold & silver from the SS Central America,

     SS Republic, SS New York, and SS Brother Jonathon. Most pieces are sold to want lists.

     Please email or call us.

 

 

Ø   From the SS Republic, a better date San Francisco double eagle that was nearly mint state when the unfortunate paddlewheeler SS Republic SS Republic sank off the Georgia coast in October, 1865. Larger pictures and more details on this page (scroll down to coin US2). $6450

 

 

 

Ø    From the SS Republic, a Philadelphia half dollar that was clearly mint state when the unfortunate paddlewheeler SS Republic SS Republic sank off the Georgia coast in October, 1865.

Larger pictures and more details on this page (scroll down to coin US6). $425

 

 

 

Ø    There are a number of excellent books on US gold shipwrecks as well a series of important auction sales by Sotheby's, Christie's, Stack's, Bowers and others.  These sell faster than we can list them, so email or call us and we will reserve the next copy of the volume you want.

 

terravitan@aol.com or goldcobs@aol.com  480-595-1293

 

 

5. BOOKS &CATALOGUES

 

       Ø  Various catalogs from the Real 8 Treasure Sales of the 1960-70's. Inquire for details  here.

       Ø  A mostly complete run of Ponterio catalogues 1981-2010, the indispensable source for

           Spanish Colonial numismatics (110 catalogues). Available.  Details here.

 

Ø.  The famous Christie's Norweb Sales of Mexican and Spanish Colonial rarities. May & November 1985. One of the most important Spanish Colonial sales of the 20th century. Two soft cover catalogues. $45. Details here

 Ø. The Sellschopp and Ortiz Sales (1988 & 1992) by the Swiss Bank Corp. Hard covers as show. Both catalogues for $199. Details here.

.

 

  Ø. This masterful study of the gold coins and bars recovered from the SS Central America.

       One as new copy. Oversize book about 7 lbs. $156.

 

6. WHO ARE WE?

Many of us knew a famous treasure hunter whose motto was "Today is the day."  When Mel moved to Florida in 1963, an uncle of ours (Rupert Gates), a cartographer by profession,  became one of Mel Fisher's first partners. Ever since then, our family has been involved with the 1715 Fleet (soon to be celebrating its tercentenary!). Like Rupert, we are academics and numismatists who fell in love with the tragic story of the 1715 Fleet. While living and teaching on Florida's Gold coast, we got to know the people of Real 8 and Treasure Salvors. Characters all, they were still gracious enough to let us dive with them on the treasure-laden sites of the Fleet. In those halcyon days, every July seemed to promise another "Carpet of Gold." Most of us cannot devote our lives to traveling the world and diving for treasure. What we can do is build a personal and tangible connection to tragic events like the loss the 1715 Fleet through the coins and artifacts we collect.  Unless time travel becomes a reality, these coins will remain our best portals to the past. Today is the day to treat yourself to a piece of history.

 

WANT LISTS are welcomed. If you are looking for Fleet material or other quality gold & silver Spanish Colonials, you might consider sending me a want list. Want lists get priority.  Want list clients will be notified before an item they are seeking is listed on this site. By the way, each of gold cobs we sell comes with a photo-certificate authenticating it, detailing its provenance, its rarity, its provenience if known, and giving any other information available about the coin. Here is a sample photo-certificate. Our guarantee of authenticity is absolute and without time limit. No one is infallible, but we are proud to say that we have been doing this for many years longer than PCGS or NGC and without a mistake.
 

We are numismatists with over four decades of experience specializing in the gold and silver coinage of the Spain's New World Empire. We continue to find Spanish Colonial coinage a challenging and rewarding field of study. We enjoy helping people discover this fascinating

area of numismatics. Getting started right is one of the keys.  If you would like to build a

significant collection, or just acquire few pieces of history, we are ready to help you learn and build your collection.  Please email us at terravitan@aol.com or call us at 480-595-1293. 

 

 

  terravitan@aol.com or goldcobs@aol.com

480-595-1293.