Please Note: This is an authentic Spanish Gold Treasure Coin, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.
FOR PENDANT SIZE SEE COIN DETAILS BELOW
No other coin is quite as legendary and regal as the glittering gold doubloon. Desired above all other currency by kings, queens, pirates, privateers and adventurers for centuries, this stunning example of the coin-minters art is the unquestioned treasure coin to end all treasure coins!
Some 30 years ago, a cache of Spanish gold coins was found on private property only a few miles from the British territory of Gibraltar, at the southern tip of Spain. Gold and silver coins continue to be found throughout southern Spain - and it is from these discoveries that this precious gold coin hails... see below for more history of the area and its treasures!
Note from Robert: Beyond this being a stunning, one-of-a-kind quality specimen, it is almost uncirculated, and is dated 1776! It was also struck in Mexico City, Nueva Espana and made the perilous journey in a Spanish Galleon to Spain, where it was found. The rarity of this coin ranks it in the top 2-3% available in the world.
1776, the year British colonists declared their independence from Britain and King George III. Over the next 8 years, the "Patriots" lost tens of thousands of lives, by the time King George acknowledge America's independence in 1783.
This coin is amazing! You can still see the mint luster in the fields between the letters. I love to custom make 18K bezels for coins of this quality as it gives them a regal look and feel. Amazing condition for its age.
EXCERT FROM THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY: With the start of the American Revolution (1775-1783), Spain’s relationship with Britain’s colonists in North America took an interesting turn. Charles III (who struck this coin) wanted to support the American colonists in hopes of upsetting British power so that Spain might regain some of its property, including Florida. But he also didn’t want to send a message to his own colonies to revolt, as well as making his treasure galleons a target for the lethal Royal Navy. He initially supported the “rebels” by providing finances, weapons (some smuggled through Louisiana), and bases for their privateers (pirates sailing under a letter of marque) attacking British shipping. But he didn’t recognize them diplomatically. By 1779 this balancing act was too difficult to maintain, and once the treasure galleons were safely in Cadiz, he joined France in helping America gain its independence.
Both Spain’s and France’s support for the American rebels was crucial to the defeat of General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown. Wealthy Spanish merchants in Havana, Cuba, loaned about 500,000 pieces of 8 to Admiral François-Joseph Paul, marquis de Grasse Tilly, comte de Grasse so he could pay for supplies and the French and Continental troops lead by George Washington marching to attack Yorktown.Cornwallis, and British 7,000 troops surrendered at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.
Spain and Portugal encompass the southwestern part of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Since the early 1700's, Gibraltar has been a British territory at the southern tip of the peninsula. It is home to the legendary 1,400 foot rock formation, the Rock of Gibraltar, the northern point of the legendary Pillars of Hercules. To the south, across the Straight of Gibraltar (where the Mediterranean Sea flows into the Atlantic Ocean), is Africa and mountains that make up the southern point of the Pillars.
The Napoleonic Wars began in 1803. Led by France’s new “Emperor” Napoleon Bonaparte, France's armies quickly began conquering most of Europe. In the early years, Spain was one of Napoleon's allies, and they joined forces to conquer England. But after Spain helped Napoleon invade Portugal in 1807, he turned and captured the Spanish monarchy in early 1808. On May 2nd, Spanish citizens rose up in a bloody revolt, but were quickly overwhelmed by France's elite Imperial Guard. Public meetings were banned, all weapons were confiscated (including kitchen knives, shears and even needles) and curfews were put in place. Napoleon placed his brother, Joseph, on the Spanish throne.
Shortly after, Spanish delegates headed south to their enemy, the English at Gibraltar. Now facing a mutual enemy, Gibraltar became the staging grounds for British troops entering Spain in the south, and the Royal Navy’s maritime activities against Napoleon in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
The Peninsular War (1808 – 1814) had begun. The battle lines of the war were like a seesaw. For six years, allied British, Spanish and Portuguese armies clashed with Napoleon’s armies on the Iberian Peninsula, taking ground, then losing it, only to take it again. The Peninsular War is considered one of the first wars of national liberation, and is noted for the emergence of large scale guerrilla warfare.
Armies and soldiers do not survive on good wishes. It takes gold, and lots of it. It is fascinating to think that these gold coins were in circulation, in the same area and time these events took place. Were they payments for supplies and food? Were they payment to soldiers? We can never know. But we do know that when the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, the world was changed forever.
To see our complete collection of Spanish "Piece of Eight" treasure coins, click here>
with your treasure coin purchase. Choose your chain and enter Coupon Code: CHAIN at checkout. (Does not apply to discounted clearance chains.)
with your treasure coin purchase. Choose your chain and enter Coupon Code: CHAIN at checkout. (Does not apply to discounted clearance chains.)
Questions? Confused? Looking for a gift? We're experts at matching treasure to people. Give us a call at 503.436.1626, join us on Live Chat, or drop us an email at treasure@cannonbeachtreasure.com.
Questions? Confused? Looking for a gift? We're experts at matching treasure to people. Give us a call at 503.436.1626, join us on Live Chat, or drop us an email at treasure@cannonbeachtreasure.com.
