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Auction: 26776 - America 250th Anniversary Sale Ft. Coins, Medals, Banknotes, Objets de Vertu & Ephemera
Lot: 53

(x) 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, 53mm, 56.48g (Eimer 285; MI 619/33), chased and smoothed, subsequently toned, fine and scarce

Provenance

Heidrun Höhn, Leipzig, Auction 95, 12 November 2020, lot 1195


Captain William Phips (1651-1695), who latterly became Governor of Massachusetts, 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 laden 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).

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
$600 to $800

Starting price
$500