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Large silver Atocha bar #799 from Potosi, 76 lb 3.84 oz troy, Class Factor 1.0

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Shipwreck Ingots Start Price:24,000.00 USD Estimated At:30,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
Large silver Atocha bar #799 from Potosi, 76 lb 3.84 oz troy, Class Factor 1.0
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Large silver bar #799 from Potosi, 76 lb 3.84 oz troy, Class Factor 1.0, with markings of mine/date Po1622, manifest CCCXLVI (346), and fineness IIUCCCLXXX (2380/2400) followed by cartouche of assayer Mexia, tax stamps, and letter A (royal tax bar), ex-Atocha (1622). 13-3/4" x 4-3/4" x 3-1/4". A very tidy bar with a plethora of important markings, most notably the full mine/date Po1622 and circular tax stamps (six in all), the latter consisting of two different types: the usual castles-lions in shield with king's name and ordinal in legend (significantly seen here with enough detail to note that the king's name is rendered with Y's, thus PHYLYPVS), and a smaller stamp with the king's monogram with double-border legend (like a half real) with O above and S below and P to left (meaning unknown). The fineness and assayer cartouche are also reasonably clear, and the manifest number is typically bold, but also we see a very neat letter A (upside-down relative to the other markings), which has been shown to indicate a shipment specifically for the crown (tax proceeds, basically), in lieu of any owner/shipper marks. A smallish peanut-shaped double-scoop assayer's "bite" is in the center, and in one corner is a contrived letter B (silvermaster's mark). A very attractive bar overall, definitely one of the best to be found. (Special shipping required; pickup in person recommended.) From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher photo-certificate #799, plus manifest translation by Homer Lyon Jr, as well as the color brochure "The Atocha Treasure: A Legend Continues…" for the Caesars Palace (Las Vegas) auction of September 26, 1987 (although this bar does not appear to have been in that auction), also pedigreed to our Auction 4 (lot #154). Recovered from: Atocha, sunk in 1622 west of Key West, Florida