Shipwreck Treasure // Large Silver 8-Reale "Piece Of Eight"

A treasure from the wreck of the Consolacion in Potosi, Bolivia. This is a silver cob 8 reales coin or "Piece of Eight", dated 1679V. It features bold full pillars-and-waves with the date in legend.

It was recovered from: Consolacion, sunk in 1681 off Santa Clara Island, Ecuador. With full-color photo certificate #M180133 from the salvagers. ex-Daniel Frank Sedwick, FL.

The Consolacion, a Spanish Armada del Sur (South Sea Armada) galleon, was lost in 1681 after striking a reef near Guayaquil Ecuador. A delay in receiving silver coins from the mint in Potosi prevented the Santa Maria de la Consolacion from sailing with the rest of the armada from Callao, Chile. When the lone ship met pirates, the captain decided to ground the Consolacion on Santa Clara island, nicknamed Isla de Muerto (Island of the Dead), but struck a reef in the process. The vessel was evacuated and intentionally set on fire by the crew to prevent the plunder of treasure; Consolacion coins are thus true pirate treasure coins.