11/22/2023
Do you like shipwreck coins? Well, we just listed a few from one of the most famous of them all, the El Cazador! These 2 Reales are certified genuine by NGC, less common than the bigger 8 Reales, these 2 Reales offer a more affordable way to own a piece of this historic wreck! Each of these coins offer a unique and dramatic glimpse of coinage in the 18th century, after 200 years in the ocean each coin is full of character and more unique than the next!
The El Cazador was a Spanish brig that sank in the Gulf of Mexico in 1784. Carrying silver coins from the Spanish colonies, it remained lost for over 200 years until discovered off the coast of Louisiana in 1993. The coins recovered from the El Cazador shipwreck, dating back to the late 18th century, were predominantly Spanish 8 Reales silver coins. Minted under the reign of King Charles III of Spain, these coins bore intricate designs, featuring the Spanish coat of arms on one side and a portrait of the reigning monarch on the other.
The denomination of 8 Reales, often referred to as "pieces of eight," held widespread recognition as a global trade currency during the Age of Sail. Their uniform weight and silver content made them ideal for international commerce, and they were widely accepted in trade transactions across continents. The recovery of this treasure trove has since become a pivotal event in maritime archaeology, offering historians and numismatists valuable insights into the complexities of global trade during that era.
