Over the period, many people have drawn attention to coins that have been recovered from ancient shipwrecks. The coins have become precious for historical purposes and their material value. Shipwreck coins are rare to find when many historians search for them since they preserve crucial historical data about those brave men who sailed for distances for reasons like trade, exploration, or military purposes.
Many of the hazardous shipwrecks are believed to have occurred around the coast of England. And are believed to be the Portuguese sailors returning cargo and wealth to European countries. The other shipwreck incidents happened from Florida to the Caribbean Sea. And are believed to be the Spanish ships that were in the business of gathering valuable things from the outside world.
Although many shipwreck coins that have been collected on the ocean floor have been oxidized and changed their color, there are remaining details to show that the coins used were monetized to facilitate trade across many countries overseas.
The Golden Atocha Shipwreck Coins
The number of golden coins salvaged from the Atocha shipwreck is as low as 128. The coins are believed to have been minted in Spain, where only the wealthy sailors could possess them. Due to their scarcity, the coins are incredibly precious and are sold at a very high price by the dealers.
The Admiral Gardner Shipwreck Coins
Historians believe the gardener shipwreck occurred in 1809 when it encountered a strong storm just a short distance from the harbor. The ship was carrying only the crew and copper coins cargo that was supposed to be delivered to India. Only one crew perished, but the rest survived when the ship grounded on the sand, and the copper coins poured into the Sea.
Some of the salvaged coins included the ten-shilling Indian coins of 1808. On the obverse, the coin bore the name of the “East Indian Company,” and a shield and its value were written on the reverse in Persian.
The El Cazador Coins
El Cazador shipwreck coins were carried by a Spanish warship heading to Mexico in 1784. The ship capsized due to violent winds it met on the way, and its remains were not found until late 1993, when they were discovered accidentally by a group of fishermen. Unfortunately, only eight reals were salvaged and are highly valued today.
The Atocha Coins
The Atocha shipwreck coins were a mixture of silvery and golden coins from Mexico. On the 6th of September in 1622, the ship collided with the reef near Florida because of heavy storms. The vessel was loaded with at least twenty thousand hand-stamped silver coins. It also contained other valuable metallic items. The ship also carried 260 passengers, of which none was saved. The remains of the vessel were found in1985.
Summary
A lot of efforts have been made to collect every treasure that has been lost underwater throughout human history. The Sea remains a treasure of most valuables that keep increasing in price daily.
