Sao Jose 1556-1622 8 Reales Silver Ancient Coin

Sao Jose 1556-1622 8 Reales Silver Ancient Coins

The São José was a “carrack,” an immense sailing vessel distinguished by its huge stern castle towering high above the sea. Armed with brass cannon, it was typical of Portuguese ships sailing to the Far East, transporting ballast, passengers and the annual consignment of money to support trade with the East and Portuguese outposts along the trade routes. The São José carried an impressive cargo, the legendary ancient coin silver treasure of Philip III, King of Spain and Portugal, handed over to Francisco da Gama on his way to India. The shipment included nine chests filled with thousands of silver reales coins produced in both the Old and New World mints of Mexico, Bolivia and Spain. These are precious metal historic ship wreck coins, a true treasue.

The São José was lost in 1622 off the coast of Mozambique after being attacked by English and Dutch defense ships while on a mission to deliver Francisco da Gama, great grandson of legendary Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, to reign as the Viceroy of India. On board, it carried a royal treasure of the Portuguese Empire to support trade with the East and Portuguese Empire to support trade with the East and Portuguese outposts on the trade route.

After extensive historical research in British, Dutch and Portuguese archives followed by a large area magnetometer survey in 2003 and 2004, Arqueonautas Worldwide – Arqueologia Subaquática SA (AWW), in partnership with its Mozambican counterpart Património Internacional SARL began with the excavation and recovery of the São José in April 2005 off the coast of Mozambique.
 
An Arqueonautas team of 27 specialists, including trained divers, archaeologists, conservation experts and specialized back-up personnel, has excavated the ancient coins of the São José under the supervision of the Cuban marine archaeologist Alejandro Mirabal. The items discovered and recovered to date include four large bronze cannon and a quantity of rare silver coins.

Based on their remarkable story linking the New World and the Portuguese maritime trade routes, the São José ancient coins are composed of a unique assortment of Old and New World mints. Rated as extremely rare shipwreck coins, never before available to collectors for private ownership (by Daniel Sedwick, Author of The Practical Book of Cobs), of the 24,000 ancient coins recovered, fewer than 7,200 are collectibles in excellent condition, provenance-certified and graded by NGC.

Also available is the Sao Jose 1556-1622 4 and 8 Reales Ancient Silver Treasure 2 Coin Set.