HISTORIC OLD COINS

PIRATE TREASURE PIECE-OF-EIGHT

The Spanish treasure ship Santa Maria de la Consolocion left Callao, Chile in 1681, bound for Panama, where her precious cargo that was to be transported across the isthmus and then shipped onto Spain.  Because of a delay in getting its silver coins from the mint in Potosi, Bolivia, she was forced to sail alone, after the rest of the South Sea Armada had departed.   The lone galleon was soon attacked by a fleet of six British pirate ships.   The captain attempted to defend his precious cargo by landing his ship on a small island named Isla de Muerto (Island of the Dead) in the Bay of Guayaquil, Ecuador.  The vessel accidentally hit a reef and began to sink.  To prevent the treasure from falling into the hands of the pirates, the captain set the ship afire.  The pirates, furious that the ship had been burned, captured and beheaded the estimated 350 passengers and crew of the ship.  Neither the pirates, nor the returning Spaniards were able to recover the treasure from the shark infested waters.  We are pleased to offer you a genuine Spanish silver Eight Real cob, also known as a Piece of Eight, salvaged from the treasure ship Consolacion.   As with all cobs, the coin is very crudely struck, and sitting under the ocean for over 300 years did not improve their quality.   The major elements of the design are visible.  The coin is dated between about 1660 and 1680, though the date is rather obscure and are from the Potosi mint.   The coin comes with an attractive Certificate of Authenticity that includes a photograph of the coin.  It is an interesting and historic treasure coin.
Item BK-COB8    SPANISH PIECE OF EIGHT FROM THE TREASURE SHIP CONSOLACION, VG-CRUDE   $150.00

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THE FAMED PILLAR DOLLAR

The “Pillar Dollar” is the silver 8 Reales, or Piece-of-Eight issued by Spain’s New World mints between 1732 and 1780.  The coins were enormously popular throughout the America’s and Asia and formed the basis of the United States dollar.  One side of the coin featured maps of the New World and Old World, beneath the Spanish Crown and between two pillars, representing the Pillars of Hercules.  The other side had the crowned arms of Spain. We recently acquired a small group of 1740 dated Pillar Dollars of Spanish King Phillip V from the Mexico City mint.   These coins were found on a beach and show signs corrosion from being exposed to salt water for hundreds of years.  It is a historic and popular coin.
Item C-SP-PILLAR  PILLAR DOLLAR 1740 MEXICO F-CORRODED    $149.50

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AMERICA'S FIRST SILVER DOLLAR - THE PIECE-OF-EIGHT

Few coins can match the history and romance of the Piece-of-Eight.  Commonly known as the Spanish 8 Reales, or Spanish Milled Dollar, this large silver coin was widely used throughout the Americas.  Its wide acceptance made it a favorite of both pirates and merchants.  It was used throughout the colonies before the American Revolution, and was the basis of the United States Dollar.  The coin continued to be legal tender in the United States until 1857. These original Pieces-of-Eight went down in a shipwreck in 1784 off the coast of Louisiana. The coins bear the bust of Spanish King Carlos (Charles) III one side and the Spanish coat-of-arms between the Pillars of Hercules on the other. The coins were struck at the historic Mexico City Mint, and were on their way from Mexico to the then Spanish port of New Orleans when the ship was lost at sea. The coins were only recently recovered, and definitely show signs that they have been underseas for the last 200 or so years.  We offer the coin in two grades. The Heavily Corroded coins are identifiable and show major design elements, however much of the silver and most of the design details have been eaten away by the corrosive salt water. We recommend these for someone who would like to have an example of an historic Piece-of-Eight, a lucky pocket piece or just want a real piece of treasure.  The moderately corroded coins are hand selected to show a readible date and a reasonable amount of the design details, including a clear bust of Carlos
Item C-SP8R-HC   PIECE-OF-EIGHT OF CARLOS III  HEAVILY CORRODED    $35.00
Item C-SP8R-MC   PIECE-OF-EIGHT OF CARLOS III (1780-1783)  MODERATELY CORRODED   $99.50

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COINS FROM PORTUGAL'S WARS OF SUCCESSION.

These large, thick, bronze Portuguese Patacos (40 Reis coins) were issued by King Joao VI (John VI) and his son Miguel.  Joao was not up to the task of running the vast Portuguese Empire, which included both Portugal and Brazil.  He assumed the reigns of government as regent for his insane mother in 1799.  In 1807, when Portugal was invaded by France, he and the royal family fled to Brazil under an escort of British warships. He ruled Portugal from Brazil. He returned to Portugal in 1821 after a revolution there made him a constitutional monarch. The same year, and again in 1823, he had to suppress a rebellion by his younger son Miguel.  In 1822, his elder son, Pedro, whom he left in Brazil, declared Brazil to be independent.  Joao died in 1826, possibly of arsenic poisoning.  Pedro assumed the throne of Portugal, briefly reuniting the two countries, before being overthrown in Portugal by Miguel.  In 1831 Pedro abdicated the throne of Brazil in favor of his five-year old son, and returned to Portugal to reclaim the throne of Portugal.  A bloody civil war ensued before Miguel was defeated in 1834. Pedro placed his 15 year old daughter, Maria on the throne of Portugal and he died shortly thereafter. The coins of Joao bear his portrait on the obverse and the Portuguese arms on the reverse. They date from 1812 to 1825.  The coins of Miguel have the arms of Portugal on the obverse, the denomination on the reverse and date from 1829 to 1833. The coins are well circulated, grading About Good to Good.
Item C-PT-JOAO  PORTUGAL 40 REIS, JOAO VI (1812-1825)  AG-G     $8.75
Item C-PT-MIG     PORTUGAL 40 REIS, MIGUEL (1829-33)    AG-G   sorry, sold out

FOR MODERN COINS OF PORTUGAL PLEASE SEE:

PORTUGAL 2 EUROS 2007 EU PRESIDENCY
PORTUGAL SILVER 5 EURO 2007 SCOUTING - BADEN-POWELL
PORTUGESE BI-METALLIC COIN CELEBRATES THE UNITED NATIONS

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SCARCE KOREAN COIN FROM THE MILITARY TRAINING COMMAND

From 1633 to 1891 Korea issued an extensive series of bronze cash coins, called Sang P’yong T’ong Bo, or :Always even currency”.  Coins were minted by various government agencies.  Most of these coins were melted after Japan gained control of Korea starting in 1895, thus they are rarely seen today.  The Korean coins tend to be much cruder and not as well cast as those of China or Japan.  This 1 Mun coin was issued by the Korean Military Training Command between 1832 and 1857.  The reverse gives the mint name, as well as the furnace and series number for the coin
Item C-KOR-M28  KOREA 1 MUN, MILITARY TRAINING COMMAND 1832-57 VG    $4.00

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LARGE OLD OTTOMAN SILVER COIN

Compared to similar European and American coins, this large old Ottoman coin is remarkable cheap. The vast Ottoman Empire spanned three continents, Europe, Asia and Africa.  The empire was in a period of decline when these coins were struck, both from internal disputes and from endless warfare with its neighbors.  From the reign Selim III, who reigned from 1789 to 1808 we offer a silver 2 Piastres.   During his reign Napoleon invaded the Ottoman province of Egypt.  Selim initially allied himself with Great Britain and Russia, however he quickly turned and declared war on them after the British chased Napoleon out of Egypt. In 1808 Selim was strangled to death by conservatives who objected to his governmental reforms.    The coin is approximately 42mm in diameter,  larger than a United States silver dollar.  As was typical,  Ottoman minters were paid for quantity, not quality, so the coins are often struck with parts of the design weak or struck on rough or flawed planchets.  Following Islamic tradition, the coins feature ornate calligraphy rather than a portrait.
Item L-TR-SLM  OTTOMAN LARGE SILVER 2 PIASTRES (1789-1808) F.-rough  (KM504)    $35.00

Also see:
OTTOMAN SILVER MEDINO OF SULEYMAN  THE MAGNIFICANT

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POLISH & LITHUANIAN COIN FROM OF DISASTROUS KING JAN CASIMIR

King Jan (John) II Casimir was born in 1609 as the second son of Polish King Sigismund III Vasa.  He fought in the 30 years war only to be captured by the French. After his release he decided to join the Jesuits and forgo political life.  He, Poland, and Lithuania would probably have been better off if he had stayed a Jesuit.  He soon left the Jesuits and upon the death of his brother in 1648 he became King of both Poland and Lithuania.  His reign was marked by almost constant warfare with his neighbors.  He skipped the country in 1655 in the face of a Swedish invasion, returning only after a number of successful peasant revolts against the Swedes.  In attempts to find allies and make peace he was forced to give up his claims to the thrones of Prussia and Sweden.  Even so, he lost large amounts of territory to Sweden and Russia.  Facing domestic upheaval over his disastrous policies, he abdicated in 1668 and retired to France to become an abbot. We offer copper coins of Jan Caismir struck for both Poland and Lithuania between 1659 and 1667.  Both coins have the bust of Jan on the front.  The Polish issues have a crowned eagle on the reverse, while the Lithuanian issues have the knight Vytautas on horseback on the reverse.
Item C-PL-JC  POLAND 1 SOLIDUS JAN II CASIMIR (1659-1667) (KM110) VG  $8.75
Item C-LT-JC   LITHUANIA 1 SCHILLING JAN II CASIMIR (1660-1666) (KM50) VG-F  $9.75

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OLD POLISH SILVER COIN OF SIGISMUND III

This silver 3 Polker coin of Poland was issued by king Sigismund III Vasa between 1614 and 1628. Sigismund became king of Poland and Lithuania in 1587.  He was also king of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599.  His efforts to unite Poland and Sweden caused sixty years of war between the two.  He invaded Russia in 1605, taking advantage of their Time of Troubles.  Despite occupying Moscow and proclaiming himself to be Czar, he was unable to control the country. His war in Russia continued until a peace treaty was finally signed in1618.  One side of the coin has the crowned arms of united Poland and Lithuania.  The other side features the number 24 within an orb, indicating the coin was worth 1/24th of a Thaler.  The coins grade VG to Fine, however they do not have visible dates due to weaknesses in the strike.
Item C-PL-41  POLAND 3 POLKER  (1614-28) VG-F    $10.00

For MODERN coins of Poland please see
1988 AND 1989 POLAND COIN SETS
RECENT POLAND COIN SET
POLAND 2 ZLOTE COMMEMORATIVE SETS
POLAND GOLD ON SILVER WORLD CUP SOCCER COIN