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This great 8 reale was recovered from the wreck of the 1715 Fleet, which was wrecked
on the Florida East Coast in July, 1715 by a hurricane. The fleet had 13 galleons
in it when it left Havana, and only one didn't sink. Nearly a thousand lives
were lost. This coin is an eight reale minted at the Mexico City Mint around 1712.
It features the shield of Phillip V on the obverse and the Florenzada Cross unique
to Mexico on the reverse. The coin is mounted in a heavy 14 kt. yellow gold wire
with a boat shackle at the top. It is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity
issued by the famed Bob "Frogfoot" Weller, who has written many books
on this and other fleets. Coins from his personal collection with his certificates
are quite scarce. Bob and his wife Margaret go back a great many years in the salvage
of the fleet, with both he and she making major finds on this famous group of wrecks.
Frogfoot is quite ill now and no longer dives, but his writing hasn't slowed
down much, with a new book coming out soon about his adventures. Don't miss
out on this great treasure from a very famous treasure hunter and writer.
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