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The 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet was a group of galleons enroute to Spain when they were struck by a hurricane on July 31, 1715, with most of the ships sinking near the coast of Florida between Sebastian Inlet and Ft. Pierce, an area now known as the Treasure Coast because of the large amount of Spanish Treasure found there. This 8 reale was minted at the Mexico City Mint around 1714. It has a rectangular planchet where the silver was just cut from a bar and stamped as it was. The obverse bears the shield of Phillip V of Spain. The reverse features the Florenzada Cross unique to the Mexico Mint. This is a very interesting period in the minting process at the Mexico Mint. The shapes of the coins were unusual. The coin weighs a hefty 22 grams and measures 33 by 30 mm. It is accompanied by a Cobb Coin Company/Mel Fisher certificate of authenticity.