Edited: Atocha 8 Real & Copper Ingot

deansmint

Ive been offered a Mel Fisher 1715 Shipwreck 4 Escudos. Any ides of value?? Customer paid a rather large sum from a jewelry shop in florida, Seems excesive to me, but I dont know the market. Thanks.

Edited:

Here are the photos of my Atocha copper ingot and Grade two 8 Real, all comments are appreciated.

coinnerd

There are a lot of variables when evaluating cobs. I will not evaluate one from a picture. They have to be seen and held to get a true idea of value.
First are you sure it's real, a certificate is not enough. I've seen a lot of reproductions sold in jewelry.
Is it in jewelry or has it been.
What is the weight.
Does the date show and how much of the date.
Is it well centered and well struck.
Does the mint mark and assayer initial show.
How is it's overall look and eye appeal.

lordmarcovan

As the previous respondent said, beware of these, particularly the ones that came from jewelry stores in Florida.

Didn't Mel Fisher get himself in some hot water over fakes, just before he died?

Not saying yours is automatically a fake- obviously, Mel found lots of real ones. But there are LOTS of fakes out there, too, so beware.

TwoKopeiki

The controversy is that they are selling coins made of real Atocha silver struck with "authentic" dies made by copying coins actually found on the ship. This wasn't made public until just before Mel's death. It is a refreshing admission if a bit late for the hundreds or thousands of suckers that bought the copies without being told. From a reliable source I've gathered that the "replicas" were salted onto the wreck site just before an authorized dive was scheduled to take place. That way the cobs could be discovered "in place" by divers authorized by Mel to dive the site. That gave an air of authenticity to the new discoveries of high grade cobs. The divers turned in the bulk of the coins to Mel but were allowed to keep a couple. This way the divers could vouch for the discovery.

deansmint

Thank you kindly for the information, the customer paid $4,000 plus about 20 years ago. I told him he would be lucky to get half that and will I most likely get the coin on memo. I will post pictures if or when I get the coin in hand. I also have one of the large copper ingots and an 8 Real Grade Two that I will post for inquiry. Again, thanks.

GDJMSP

GDJMSP

dang double posts


Typically, anything even associated with Mel Fisher sells for anywhere from double to 10 times what it is actually worth. I would strongly advise you not to buy such a coin as you can the very same coin for a fraction of what you will this one.

deansmint

Edited original post with photos of my Atocha items.

TwoKopeiki

That's a whole lotta copper

MadMuffin

That's not a copper ingot, it's a mobile copper mine

Interesting pieces - thanks for sharing.

Marcel

lordmarcovan

That ingot is definitely NOT something you'd wanna drop on your foot, for sure!

It makes my old piece of Swedish plate money look like a saltine cracker!