Shipwreck Coin - 8 Reale Mexican 'Cob' Type Coin ex Johanna wrecked Southern Cape 34deg46.20S 19deg42.10E
Early in the morning of 8th June 1682 , an English East Indiaman of 550 tons commanded by Capt Robert Brown was wrecked at 'Die Dam' 50 Km West of Cape Agulhas. She was on an Outward Bound Voyage from the Downs en route to Surat Bengal in the company of four other Merchantmen.The crew had to row makeshift boats to shore. Ten drowned on the way.
Her Cargo consisted of 23000 Cob type coins and 300Kgs of Silver Discs. 44 Cast Iron Canons were found as well.The obvious question being 'What was a British Ship doing with so much Spanish Mexican specie on Board???' I think the answer lies in the plundering of Spanish Ships by British Ships typified by Sir Francis Drake in the late 1500s- a Queen sponsored Pirate!!.
Simon van der Stel despatched Ensign Olof Bergh (has Brandy named after him) to the site who recovered some cargo .The same Olof Bergh was a few years later found guilty of holding back teasure from another wreck - the 'Nossa Senora dos Milagros' Struisbaai 1686 (undiscovered) and sentenced to Robben Island for 3 years.
The survivors of the Johanna were helped by still friendly Khoi inhabitants and reached Cape Town Castle in 10 days .
The wreck was found by Gavin Clackworthy and his team in 1982 and salvage was undertaken under National Monuments Commision Supervision.
Here is one of the coins found. Obvious wear from 3 Centuries of being under the sea but the Cross can be made out as can some of the Spanish Shield on the Obverse. The Cob type coin was crudely struck from Pieces of silver plate weighing an exact amount and only part of the legend of the stamp is visible even in perfect specimens. The weight was standardised at a 'Real' and this coin was an 8 Real weighing as much as a Thaler, It was very unusual to find a dated coin in amongst these coins and these fetch a premium as can be seen in the latest Heritage Auction where a dated Mexican Cob coin fetched $1800 (item 51742).Some Cob coins from that wreck carry an M ,standing for the Mexico City Mint (started in1536) others carry the letter L from the Lima mint (started in 1568) Other coins that carry the P letter come from the Potosi mint started in 1575 and this area has produced a large proportion of the world's Silver.
Please pay by Internet Transfer with email/sms confirmation within Three Days after close of Auction.
Postage costs to be added; Speed Post Couriers R45 Counter to Counter or R90 Counter to Door
Banking Details as follows; Standard Bank Richards Bay Branch Code 058030
G.E.A.Jacobs Medelite A/C No 06-032-1032
