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This wonderful Atocha silver piece of eight was minted at the Potosi Mint by the famed dyslexic assayer Juan Ximenez de Tapia, who made many errors and reversals in the minting of his coins. Tapia coins are highly collectible in their own right. This coin was made at the Potosi Mint in 1619. Dated coins from the Atocha, expecially those of the smaller denominations like two and one reale, are extremely rare from the Atocha. The obverse of this coin features the shield of Phillip III of Spain with a portion of the P mintmark and the entire T assayer's mark to the left. An Arabic denomination "2" is visible to the right. The reverse features a Crusader's Cross with lions and castles, with a complete "619" of the date in the upper left quadrant. The coin is mounted in a handmade 14 kt. yellow gold bezel with a baroque pearl below and a boat shackle at the top. The coin alone would sell for $4500 and up at the museum in Key West with no bezel. It is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Atocha and is guaranteed to be genuine
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