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Gold bar #17, 878 grams, 15.75 karat, Class 2, marked with tax stamps, karat markings and assayer or

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Shipwreck Ingots Start Price:35,000.00 USD Estimated At:45,000.00 - 90,000.00 USD
Gold bar #17, 878 grams, 15.75 karat, Class 2, marked with tax stamps, karat markings and assayer or
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Gold bar #17, 878 grams, 15.75 karat, Class 2, marked with tax stamps, karat markings and assayer or foundry cartouche IVAN / P3, ex-Atocha (1622). 8-1/2" x 1-1/4" x 1/2". Large Atocha gold bars are highly sought, especially with lots of markings, and this one is about as complete as you can get, with just one small piece cut from one end in its time (very typical, probably to settle an account or pay a tax). The top surface, which is typically uneven and bears a small, raised knob in the center to which some thick, brown encrustation still clings, shows no fewer than seven partial circular tax stamps, four bold fineness markings consisting of a boxed XV and three dots in a separate box, plus one full cartouche with weak but certain IVAN / P3 that could possibly stand for an assayer named "Juan Perez" (as some paleography studies have shown that what looks like P3 or P with a backwards Z can be shorthand for the name "Perez"), one of the scarcer cartouches seen on such bars. Light yellow color all over with nicely contrasting red color in the markings. Also we note the early style of Treasure Salvors marking (circular) on the bottom (and an early artifact number). A nearly 1-kg bar with a reasonable starting price due to its uncommon sub-16K fineness. From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher photo-certificate 85A-GB017.