Description:

RECOVERED CANNONBALL FROM SPANISH TREASURE FLEET
Heavily-encrusted cannonball, approx. 6" in diameter, recovered from a Spanish treasure fleet which sank off the coast of Florida in 1715. The fleet was sailing the regular route between Spain and its Latin American colonies, carrying approximately 14 million pesos in gold, silver, copper, and other valuable materials. A violent storm wrecked 11 of the 12 ships in the convoy, killing nearly 1,000 people. A further 1,500 survivors made it ashore and were rescued the following month. Much of the cargo was salvaged by the Spanish, but an amount valued at $500 million remained to be recovered by modern treasure hunters, including MEL FISHER (1922-1998), who also raised this cannonball. The projectile is heavily corroded and covered with the remains of barnacles, marine worms, and other detritus. It is accompanied by two identification tags, marked: "32-TOSP" and "8IR20 032 I984 COBB COIN", and a certificate of authenticity from the Cobb Coin Company, bearing the facsimile signatures of Fisher, historian Eugene Lyon, and archaeologist R. Duncan Mathewson III.

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May 25, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000