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Auction: 22007 - British and World Coins and Commemorative Medals Autumn Auction
Lot: 736

The Spanish Wreck of "Concepción" Recovered, AR Medal, 1687, by G. Bower, • IACOBVS • II • ET • MARIA • D • G • MAG • BRI • FRAN • ET • HIB • REX • ET • REGINA •, laureate and draped conjoined busts right, rev. • SEMPER TIBI PENDEAT HAMUS •, ship at sea from which men in rowing boats search for treasure from the wreck, NAVFRAGA REPERTA 1687 in exergue in two lines, plain edge, 55mm, 64.02g (Eimer 285; MI 619/33), some bruises to the edge and a handful of contact marks to surfaces, otherwise most pleasingly struck up and with blue and ochre toning, fields lustrous, an extremely fine example of this ever popular striking

Captain William Phips (1651-1695) had previously attempted to recover the treasure lost with the Spanish ship 'Nuestra Señora de la Limpia y Pura Concepción' off Hispaniola in the West Indies, when it was shipwrecked on 30 October 1641. His efforts were unsuccessful during the reign of King Charles II, and James II initially refused to assist in his renewed salvage attempts. However, Christopher, Duke of Albemarle and others advanced the necessary funds. It is believed that these medals, struck by Bower, were presented to the officers of the ship and to the promoters of the undertaking. Two ships returned to British shores laiden with cargo, some of which would be ceded to the Crown. The defective planchets witnessed across the subsequent 1687-specie is the result of the more than 30 tonnes of silver bullion coin recovered. Further information on this extraordinary event is documented in Graham Birch's, "The Metal in Britain's Coins" (Spink, June 2020).

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Sold for
£4,000

Starting price
£800