$ 2,370.00 USD Size Guide
Please Note: This is an authentic Atocha Shipwreck Treasure Coin, and you will receive the exact pendant in the photographs and description.
Atocha is the most famous Spanish galleon in shipwreck history! Mel Fisher spent 16 years searching for her... and every day he would tell his divers: “Today’s the Day!” Years of trials and heartbreak were endured, along with attacks by the State and Federal government, who wanted to claim what Fisher found along the way. At last, one fateful morning in 1985 he hit the “mother load...” millions upon millions in glittering Spanish silver and gold!
Robert's Notes: SPECIAL COLLECTABLE DIVER'S DIVISION CERTIFICATE. This is a really cool piece and VERY collectable Certificate of Authenticity.
What is a Diver's Division? And what is the "Golden Crew."
Throughout the 16 year search for Atocha, Mel Fisher barely had enough money to keep the boats operational and searching, feed his crews, and fight legal battles with the government. The work was hot and backbreaking, and the divers were paid very little. So Fisher promised to give each of them "a cut" of the treasure when (IF!) it was discovered.
"Golden Crew" members is an honor bestowed upon those who persevered for years along with Fisher before they "hit the Mother Load" in 1985.
This Certificate that comes with this coin is from the divers' division to Leah and Thomas Miguel, who are members of Atocha's Golden Crew.
This is from Leah's personal diver's division, and personally signed, sealed and dated by her September 1, 1982.
Mel Fisher authorized the Miguels to issue their own early Certificates for coins from their division. These COAs had typed in Coin Details and actual photos of the coin glued to the Certificate, and the Treasure Salvor's Inc. corporate seal embossed over the coin photo.
There are only four signatures on the standard Post Mother Load Certificates issued by Mel Fisher and Treasure Salvors. Leah L. Miguel (curator), Eugene Lyon (Research), R. Duncan Mathewson III (Archaeologist) and or course, Mel Fisher. Due to the large amount of coins recovered, everyone couldn't personally sign each COA. So their signatures are a part of the Certificate, and then the Treasure Salvors, Inc. Corporate Seal is embossed over Mel Fisher's signature. That's one of the ways to know if it is an original Treasure Salvors Inc. COA.
This coin's discovery pre-dates when Mel and his crew "hit the mother-load" in 1985. It is from the 1975 Florida State Division when Florida had forced Fisher to turn over 25% of what he had found. Fisher fought for 8 years in court and won in 1982 to keep all of the treasure he and his crew discovered. The coin # is SR 1381. The first collector of this coin is L.B. Massey, dated June, 28, 1984.
It is a really cool piece of treasure hunter memorabilia. The coin was recovered from what came to be know as "The Bank of Spain" up in "The Quick Sands" which was a small deposit of treasure that the Atocha dropped before she was pushed into deeper water by a second storm. There isn't a lot of detail on these coins, as this area had a lot of wave and sand movement. But is is still a really nice and sturdy piece with visible cross. It looks even better in hand.
Atocha coins are becoming very difficult to source, and we are excited to be able to offer this stunning coin at this price.
All of these notes will be with your piece so that its unique provenance isn't lost to time.
Us treasure hunters call pieces like these "Key West Dog Tags." Sidle (if there's no horse, it's sidle) up to an oyster bar and you will turn heads!
1622-2022 Cannon Beach Treasure Exclusive
These 400 year 1622-2022 Atocha pieces also come with a special Cannon Beach Treasure Company Exclusive 400 Year Anniversary Atocha Treasure Adventures book written and signed by Capt. Syd Jones, one of the "Atocha Golden Crew" members who very possibly, along with his wife, Captain KT-Budde-Jones, recovered this very coin. When I read one of the first copies many years ago, it brought back many fond memories of my treasure diving days in the Florida Keys years ago. I felt like I was back on the boat, diving for treasure.
For more on Mel Fisher and Atocha, click here>
To see our complete collection of Spanish "Piece of Eight" treasure coins, click here>
