The Luis R. Ponte Collection, a featured collection in Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC’s Treasure, World, U.S. Coin and Paper Money Auction 35, features a vast array of 1500s-1600s Spanish colonial cob 8 reales.
“We hope this unique offering of exquisite and well-studied material from one of the greatest cob collectors of all time will inspire other great collectors for the next few decades and more.” says company Founder and President Daniel Sedwick, a longtime expert in cobs.
The collection consists of silver cobs from the two most prolific Spanish colonial mints in South America to produce silver cobs, Lima and Potosí. Only a small percentage of the coins were made well and stayed in undamaged condition through the centuries. This collection of top examples could only be assembled by a knowledgeable collector with an eye for rarities and access to special offerings and auctions around the world.
“It is a pleasure to work with such a well-curated collection,” Sedwick continues. “Coins like these are assembled only through decades of attentive acquisition with judicious upgrading and augmentation as opportunities arise.”
Some particular highlights from the Lima mint include a very rare assayer Rincón 8 reales of 1568, a selection of assayer Diego de la Torre pieces from 1577-88, a choice run of rare “Star of Lima” varieties from 1659-60, and a massive round 1686 R “Royal” (galano) 8 reales. The Potosí offerings include a long run of shield-types from 1574-1652 including a Rincón 8 reales and several fully dated pieces plus a vast collection of Potosí countermarked coins from the Great Transition of 1649-52. This last group comprises the choicest and most advanced assemblage of rare countermarks we have ever offered, including quite a few extremely rare multiple-countermarked pieces, mostly from the Capitana (1654) and Maravillas (1656) shipwrecks. Many of the coins feature old and extensive collector pedigree histories and some are trophies never to be seen on the market again. For this important occasion, Daniel Frank Sedwick has added two special articles: one a variety list of “Star of Lima” coinage and the other a practical summary of exhaustive data on the Potosí 1649-52 countermarks presented in multiple volumes by expert Robert Mastalir.
Here is a selection of choice pieces from the Luis R. Ponte Collection:
When the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank in 1622 off what is now Key West, Florida, she took down untold treasures in gold and silver. And now a particularly famous piece of treasure from the wreck is crossing the auction block.
One of the largest gold bars ever recovered from a Spanish colonial shipwreck is up for sale on May 7th in an auction conducted by Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC in Winter Park, Florida.
The gold bar, listed in the sale as lot 96, weighs over 5 pounds (2,274 grams), measures 8-3/4” x 1-1/2” x ¾”, and consists of 17-karat gold mined in the New World. The unique bar features eight circular royal tax stamps bearing the King of Spain’s name as PHILIPPVS III along with five XVII (17-karat) gold fineness markings. The bar also possesses a single foundry and assayer mark reading SEBATN / ESPANOL at the center, a mark that is both unattributed and only found on two gold bars recovered from the Atocha.
This 5-pound gold bar recovered from the famous Atocha shipwreck sunk in 1622 is up for auction on May 7th in Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC’s Treasure Auction 35
The gold bar’s pre-auction estimate is $200,000 and up.
“This Atocha gold bar is a crowning treasure piece from the most popular salvaged shipwreck treasure ever,” said Daniel Frank Sedwick, owner and founder of the auction firm. “With its high intrinsic value in Spanish colonial gold plus its incredible historical value, it will be a trophy piece for its next owner.”
The gold bar was created in the early 1600s at a Spanish colonial foundry processing gold and silver mined throughout South America. After being transported overland to Panama City, this gold bar, among others, was loaded in mid-1622 aboard the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The Atocha, a three-masted galleon constructed just two years prior, was to carrya vast treasure of gold and silver ingots, Colombian emeralds, and silver coins all bound for mainland Spain.
When the Atocha departed her final port at Havana, Cuba on September 4th, 1622, she was the almiranta, the lead ship, of the 28-ship 1622 Fleet. The Fleet was a vital link in Spain’s finances as the gold and silver from the New World funded the royal treasuries. In addition to the treasures on board, the Atocha carried her crew along with soldiers and passengers, around 265 people in all, intending to cross the Atlantic Ocean and return to Europe.
Just two days out from Havana, the Fleet was engulfed by a hurricane while approaching the Florida Straits. Amid the storm, the Atocha was wrecked and torn apart upon a reef off the Florida Keys. Only five people survived the sinking, having clung to the highest remaining mast of the ship as it sank. The wreck of the Atocha was further scattered just a month later during another storm, preventing the Spanish colonial authorities from salvaging any of her precious cargo spilled across the ocean floor.
“Atocha Meets Her Fate,” by Ralph Curnow (2009)
The treasure of the Atocha did not see light again until 1971, when the first coins were found by the now-famous salvager Mel Fisher and his divers. Throughout legal battles and personal tragedies, the salvage group eventually recovered the bulk of the treasure in 1985 and thereby unleashed the largest supply of silver cobs and ingots the market has ever seen.
This gold bar will be auctioned along with its photo-certificate issued by the Fisher salvage company in 1985. The bar also boasts a pedigree to the Christie’s Atocha auction of June 1988 as lot 90.
Other treasures from the Atocha in the upcoming Sedwick auction include:
– a large silver ingot from Oruro weighing over 88 troy pounds (Lot 105) estimated at $30,000 and up.
– a silver ingot from Potosí weighing over 82 troy pounds (Lot 106) estimated at $25,000 and up.
This large silver “piña” ingot weighing 5,335 grams, one of just three recovered from the Atocha shipwreck, is also featured in auction
– a very rare silver piña ingot, one of only three known from the Atocha, weighing 5,335 grams (Lot 107) estimated at $15,000 and up.
– over 180 silver coins from Potosí, Mexico City, and Lima including 19 high grade pieces from the Bill Barman Collection of Atocha Research Coins
“To have this amazing gold bar alongside all these other treasure pieces from Atocha in a single auction is a feat not seen on this market in decades,” said Sedwick. “And it won’t be seen again anytime soon.”
Sedwick’s Treasure, World, U.S. Coin & Paper Money Auction 35 Live Online Auction May 7, 8, & 9, 2024
The variety of rare, historical, and even unique coins, currency, and artifacts within this auction offer a great opportunity to add valuable pieces to your collection!
Gold Cobs: Includes a number of 1715 Fleet shipwreck coins such as a Mexico City, Mexico, (1714) J gold cob 8 escudos struck with Royal dies graded NGC MS 64, pedigreed to Kip Wagner’s 1965 National Geographic article “Drowned Galleons Yield Spanish Gold” (Lot 40), as well as two beautiful Mint State Mexico gold cob 8 escudos dated 1715 J (Lots 43 and 44). Peru gold from the 1715 Fleet is also notable with the finest known Lima, Peru, 1705 H gold cob 8 escudos graded NGC MS 64 (Lot 57) and the unique Lima, Peru, 1709 M 2 escudos struck with the pillars-side die meant for a Royal 2 reales graded NGC MS 65 (Lot 72).
Shipwreck Ingots: Features an impressive, uncut gold ingot weighing 2,274 grams recovered from the famous Atocha shipwreck (Lot 96) and a rare silver piña ingot, one of just three known from the wreck (Lot 107). Shipwreck Coins: Packed with over 600 lots including treasures such as two Seville, Spain, gold cob 2 escudos from the Santa Margarita shipwreck (Lots 278 and 279), a “top pop” Bogota, Colombia, gold cob 2 escudos graded NGC MS 65 from the Maravillas shipwreck (Lot 425), and an NGC-slabbed set of Spanish colonial 1/2, 1, 2, and 8 reales from the “Coconut Wreck,” AKA “Blue Abyss Shipwreck” (Lot 695). Notable collections include the Bill Barman Collection of Atocha Research Coins (Lots 136 to 155) and selections from the Silver Banks Treasures Collection of silver cobs recovered from the Concepcion shipwreck (Lots 315 to 373). Ever-popular shipwreck coin clumps from wrecks such as the Concepcion, the 1733 Fleet, and the Hollandia (just to name a few) should not be missed. Silver Cobs of Mexico: Includes many high-grade Charles-Joanna and Philip II pieces such as the extremely rare Charles-Joanna “Late Series” assayer S 4 reales (Lot 732) and a high-grade 1733 MF klippe 8 reales (Lot 766). Silver Cobs of Lima: Hosts a key rarity, the Lima, Peru, assayer R (Rincon) cob 8 reales of Philip II the first “dollar” coin struck in South America (Lot 768).This piece is one of just sixteen known and represents a crowning achievement in the Luis R. Ponte Collection being offered in this sale. A knowledgeable numismatist and longtime friend, Luis built his collection with an eye for rarity and quality in Spanish colonial coinage, which readily shows in this catalog, from a stunning group of “Star of Lima” coinage (Lots 801 to 814) to an exceptional and extremely rare Lima, Peru, 1686 R cob 8 reales Royal (galano) graded NGC XF 40 (Lot 817).
Silver Cobs of Potosi: Features more rarities from the Luis R. Ponte Collection, including the finest-ever assemblage of countermarked shield type cob 8 reales (Lots 934 to 1033) and a very rare first-issue Potosi, Bolivia, assayer R (Rincon) cob 8 reales of Philip II (Lot 825), as well as the only known Potosi, Bolivia, 1732 M cob 8 reales Royal (Lot 1067).
World Coins: A beautiful selection of high-grade Vintage Chinese Coin Rarities such as the Hupeh Year 30 (1904) tael graded PCGS MS 62 (Lot 1190) and the gorgeously designed Hsu Shih-chang Year 10 (1921) Pavilion dollar graded PCGS SP 61 (Lot 1198). Also featured is a choice selection of Colombian Republic silver minors from Gregorio Toulemonde Collection Be sure to look for the rare one-year type La Rioja, Argentina, 1842 R Rosas gold 2 escudos graded NGC MS 63 (Lot 1095), the lustrous “top pop” Santiago, Chile, 1820 FD gold 8 escudos graded NGC MS 62 (Lot 1162), and the wonderfully toned Santiago, Chile, 1817 FJ “Volcano” peso graded NGC MS 61 from the Val y Mexia Collection (Lot 1157)—just to name a few of the many choice rarities to be found.
U.S. Coins, Medals, and Tokens: hosts a selection of gold and silver coins recovered from the Marblehead Hoard buried in Massachusetts in the early 1800s (Lots 1482 to 1488) plus a handsome example of the 1795 Draped Bust silver dollar (Lot 1475). Be sure to check out the gold lifesaving medal awarded by President McKinley in 1900 (Lot 1480).
U.S. Paper Money: Features a colorful Rainbow $2 series of 1869 Legal Tender note graded PMG VF 35 (Lot 1497) and colonial and continental currency marked by two Fugio notes of 1776 (Lots 1493 and 1494).
World Paper Money: Includes two great sets of banknote rarities: the finest known PMG-graded San Juan, Argentina, Banco de Cuyo pesos fuertes specimen set (Lot 1499) and an original Thomas de la Rue & Co. Ltd. specimen banknote album (Lot 1510). Also watch for the 1811-dated Venezuela 2- and 1-peso notes that represent Venezuela’s first paper money (Lots 1508 and 1509).
Ancient Coins and Coin Jewelry: Features several nice Ancient Gaul and Greek silver coins and several eye-catching gold cob 8 escudos mounted in gold bezels (Lots 1527 to 1529).
Shipwreck Artifacts: Stands out for two shipwreck-pedigreed gold chains, one from the 1715 Fleet and the other from the Leocadia (Lots 1562 and 1565), as well as a hefty bronze cannon breech block salvaged from the 1733 Fleet (Lot 1564). The Non-Shipwreck Artifacts section holds various historical artifacts like flintlock pistols and signal cannons.
Express Session: The third day of the auction hosts the Express session, where a variety of numismatic rarities is sure to attract many different bidders.
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