4/6/15 Report - Eight-Escudo and Silver Bar. Fossil Sea Shell. Cold Front.

Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of treasurebeachesreport.blogspot.com.

1713 J Mexico 8-Escudo From 1715 Fleet

The big news for me this morning is that the new Sedwick Coins Auction catalog is now online.  That is the Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction #21 catalog.

There are lots and lots of lots to look through.

The first session starts with the gold coins, including some 1715 Fleet escudos.  One of the stars of this session, as well as the entire auction, is an encapsulated 1714J Mexico 8-escudo graded MS 64.  Bold full cross, 100% full date and oMJ, nearly full crown and shield, muted luster and toning but technically very well preserved. NGC #3349433-001. (See photo above.)

The price estimate of this one is $15,000 to $30,000.

There are gold coins, for example Charles III busts and a one dollar Indians that are much more inexpensive, with lower end estimates below $200.

Here is the link.

http://auction.sedwickcoins.com/Treasure-World-U-S-Coin-and-Paper-Money-Auction-21_as47081

The afternoon session begins with ingots.  One of the more expensive items in the auction is an Atocha silver bar.  The estimated price range is $35,000 to $70,000.

Three Views of the Atocha Silver Ingot.

And here is the catalog description.

Large silver bar #72, 83 lb 7.52 oz troy, Class Factor 1.0, dated "Po(tosi) 1622" in cartouche, foundry / assayer MEXIA in cartouche, five tax stamps (two different designs), fineness IIUCCCLXX (2370/2400 = 98.75% fine), manifest number DCCCCXXXII (932), silvermaster A, from the Atocha (1622). 13-3/4" x 4-3/4" x 3-3/4". Attractively marked "silver loaf" (typical shape) that is particularly interesting for the fact that it shows two kinds of tax stamps (three with lions and castles and two with monogram) and an "overdate" manifest number with the second C punched over a D (probably just a mistake), although the clarity of the assayer and date cartouches is remarkable as well. Most of tax stamps appear to be more complete than usual. The middle of the top of the bar contains the usual peanut-shaped assayer's "bite." At one end is what appears to be the letter V with an up-arrow to its left for the owner/shipper, who is/are apparently not listed on the manifest. The surface of this bar is relatively uncorroded, with a couple small pits on top that existed before sinking and mostly contain small pieces of coral now. From the Atocha (1622), with Fisher photo-certificate #S72.

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Couple of Fossil Sea Shells In Rock Matrix.

Here are some fossil sea shells from the Treasure Coast.  They are embedded in rock.  Just the top part of each shell shows from this view.

As you can see from the picture below, the shells are actually larger than the part of the tops that show.  You can see much of the outline of the bottom of the shell on the left.  It encompasses most of the area of the rock.  You can see the edge of the other shell on the right at the top edge of the rock.  The size of the shell is pretty much the same as the rock on that one.

Bottom Side of Same Shells.

I just thought they were interesting.  I think they might have been totally enclosed at one time, but maybe the rock was eroded until the shell protruded.

If any of you fossil experts can tell me anything more about the shell or rock would be called, I'd appreciate hearing from you.

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A cold front came through the Treasure Coast today.  The surf is still small.

Later, maybe Saturday the wind will shift and the primary swell will begin to come from the north.

I don't see any hope for big seas though.

Happy hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net