Bonhams 1793 : Large Potosi Silver Bar from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha Shipwreck

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11 Dec 2012 13:00 PST Los Angeles
The World of Opals, The Splendor of Gold including the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Collection of Gold Nuggets
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Large Potosi Silver Bar from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha Shipwreck

From the Atocha, one of the most famous treasure ships ever to be salvaged, Bonhams is pleased to offer this amazing example of a class 1 silver bar recovered in 1985. Most of the silver bars recovered from this shipwreck can be matched to the ship's manifest. This specific bar appears to have been consigned into the ship's register for the account of Royal Officials. It is a well marked bar with the markings required for class factor 1.0. The shippers mark "MABL", manifest number IIUDCCCLXXVI (2876) and the mark of fineness IIUCCCLXXX 2380/2400 are clearly visible. There is at least one tax stamp bridging the large "F", dated 1622. (2)
Weighs 78 lbs., 6.08 oz (29.44kg).
Measures 13 7/8 x 5 x 3 1/8 in.

Sold for US$ 50,000 inc. premium

Footnotes

Provenance: Ex. Christie's auction of Gold and Silver of the 'Atocha' and 'Santa Margarita', June 14 and 15, 1988, page 216, lot 319. Page 212 of the catalogue mentions this bar as an example "for Royal Officials". Accompanied by a copy of the original Christie's auction catalogue.

Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity TSI Number 85A-S436 signed by Mel Fisher of Official Treasure Salvors, Inc.

Category: Natural History

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