La Capitana Shipwreck - 8 Reales - Dated 1653

Denomination: 8 Reales                                                                         Assayer: "E" Weight: 21.51 gm                                                                                  Mint: Potosi, Bolivia  Reign: Philip IV                                                                                       Date: 1653 Grade: VG Description: Reverse: Late style Pillar and wave design.  Jerusalem cross visible. Date (1653) visible. Assayer “E” visible.  Obverse:  Type III. Off center strike. Partial date visible (16XX) visible. History: The wreck of the Capitana, or the lead ship of the Spanish South Seas (Pacific) Fleet, would become the largest loss ever experienced by the Spanish armada. After striking the Punta Santa Elena reefs, The Jesus María de la Limpia Concepción lost a reported 3,000,000 pesos of silver.  Due to the unregistered cargo that was stored atop the anchor cables and foredeck, the crew was unable to use the anchors for safe stoppage. For con