Gold Spanish Doubloon Necklace Collection – gold coin

These stunning gold coins have captured imaginations for centuries. But these golden marvels weren’t just coins; they were the premier gold currency of Spain - and the world -  for 300 years. Today, they’re your chance to hold an authentic piece of the Age of Exploration — the coin of kings, queens, explorers, traders, revolutionaries, and yes, even a few scoundrels. 

Each Escudo coin represents power, prestige, and the stuff of legends. It is a tangible and timeless piece of history, struck in high-purity 20–22 karat gold. And the surviving examples have spent centuries under the sea or soil before being recovered from shipwrecks or buried treasure hoards.

For the adventurous collector, especially those who value authenticity, world-changing history, and fine craftsmanship, a Spanish gold Escudo necklace offers an heirloom-quality artifact that bridges the gap between legend and reality.

Let’s clear something up first: The term “Doubloon” originally referred to the 2 Escudo coin. The nickname comes from the Spanish word doblón, meaning “double”. 

The 2 Escudos were called “doblón” because they were worth double the 1 Escudo. The nickname stuck, and over time, it became a catch-all for any Spanish gold coin from the period. 

So, whether you're looking at a ½, 1, 2, 4, or even 8 Escudo, they’re all affectionately called Doubloons today.

And yes — we have to mention it — if you grew up watching The Goonies, you might remember Mikey holding up a huge silver coin and calling it a “Doubloon.” Sorry, Mikey. That one’s not gold. But we love the enthusiasm, and if your love of treasure started there, you’re in the right place!

We have also found that younger generations are more familiar with the gold doubloon thanks to the popular Disney cartoon Jake and the Neverland Pirates, in which the cast of characters refers to the gold coins they collect throughout each episode as gold Doubloons. Now, they were definitely onto something!

The Escudo (Spanish for “shield”) was first introduced as a gold coin in 1535 under the reign of King Carlos I (Charles V). Spain had just begun receiving vast riches from the New World — tons of gold flowing into royal coffers. 

The Escudo was Spain’s way to turn this wealth into a reliable currency. It was hand-hammered in Spanish mints like Seville and later in colonial mints from Mexico to Colombia, featuring the monarch’s coat of arms (hence the name “escudo”) on one side and a bold cross on the other. In an age of exploration and trade, these glittering gold coins quickly became symbols of Spain’s growing global influence. 

An Escudo was very valuable: A two Escudo coin (or doubloon) was roughly equal to 32 reales (about four Spanish silver dollars) and weighed about 6.8 grams of 22-karat gold. Smaller denominations like ½ Escudo (sometimes nicknamed escudito), 1 Escudo, 2 Escudos, 4 Escudos, plus the stunning 8 Escudo, were all minted in gold.

By the late 16th and early 17th century, the gold Escudo had become the premier currency of Spain’s dominions, used throughout Europe and the Americas. Alongside the famous silver “Pieces of Eight” (8 Reales coins), gold Escudos greased the wheels of global commerce, paying for everything from European delicacies to Asian spices. (In fact, Spanish coins were so trusted that they circulated as far as India and China — the Portuguese carrack São José, which sank in 1622, was carrying nine chests of Spanish silver reales to trade in Goa, India!) 

The Escudo’s reliability, thanks to its stable weight and high gold purity, made it an international standard of value. 

For 300 years, these gold and silver coins backed the booming economies of Europe, the Americas, and the far corners of trade in Africa and Asia. In fact, Spain’s Escudos and Reales supported over 90% of Europe’s economy at their peak, which is mind-blowing when you think about it. These weren’t just coins. They were the fuel of global commerce.

Whether you’re drawn to the rugged charm of a hand-hammered cob or the elegance of a perfectly round milled coin, each Escudo tells a different chapter of Spain’s global story.

Denominations: It’s a Family Affair

• ½ Escudo: Small but mighty — a perfect introduction to the series
• 1 Escudo: Balanced and beautiful
• 2 Escudos: The true Doubloon — the coin of pirate fame
• 4 Escudos: Rare, bold, and breathtaking
• 8 Escudos: A full Spanish ounce of gold — as heavy in hand as it is in history

Let’s put it in 17th-century terms: 2 Escudos (a Doubloon) = 32 Reales = 4 Pieces of Eight. That’s roughly 16x more valuable than a single Piece of 8.

Back then, that could buy:

• A high-quality sword
• A very nice horse
• A month’s wages for a skilled tradesman

Today, it’s something even more precious: a one-of-a-kind, fully documented historical artifact.

Doubloons were made for legends, and these gold coins lived through them. Doubloons were hoarded in vaults, stolen by privateers, and yes, perhaps even buried on remote beaches. When people think of pirate treasure, they automatically think of Doubloons because they were the treasure.

Whether you were a privateer, merchant, monarch, or mischievous marauder, Spanish gold was the gold you sought. And it still lay where it fell — under sand, sea, or stone — until modern treasure hunters brought it back to light.

Owning a Doubloon isn’t just about owning a coin — it’s owning a piece of history with a rich story attached. One coin may come from a sunken fleet scattered by a hurricane; another from a hoard long forgotten. With an authentic Escudo, you hold in your hand a survivor of real-life pirate-era drama, a coin that literally might have spent 300 years in Davy Jones’s locker or buried far from the light of day before emerging into the modern world.

At Cannon Beach Treasure Company, we make history accessible, fun, and — dare we say — dazzling.

Each of our real Doubloons is:

• Ethically sourced from shipwrecks and treasure hoards
• Professionally conserved in our in-house lab
• Extensively documented with our industry-leading Documentation Packages, including a detailed, full-color, customized multi-page Certificate of Authenticity and Historic Briefs detailing your treasure’s creation, use, loss, and recovery in modern times.

We do the deep dive into history so you don’t have to (unless you want to, in which case — call us, we love that). And if you’ve got a question? You’ll be talking to us, April and Robert, not some faceless rep.

So go ahead. Choose your Spanish doubloon necklace. Start your treasure hunt. Whether you’re looking to wear your story, gift a legend, or collect something truly rare, the world’s finest real Spanish doubloon jewelry awaits.