1 ducaton. Spanish Monarchy. Shipwreck coins. Netherlands. 1661. Westfriesland. Westfriesland. Recovered from the wreck of the Merestein, sunk in 1702 off the coast of South Africa. Slabbed by NGC as XF Details, Sea Salvaged. Special “Shipwreck Blue Label”. The Merestein, a Dutch East India Company ship, was sailing eastward when she attempted to enter Saldanha Bay to relieve the severe scurvy affecting the crew. On 3 April 1702, she struck the reefs at the southwestern end of Jutten Island and, within hours, was smashed to pieces. The ship carried several chests of silver coins intended for trade in the East Indies, prompting immediate salvage attempts. However, the difficult diving conditions in the area caused the operations to be abandoned until modern times. The wreck was rediscovered and salvaged in the early 1970s, yielding almost exclusively 17th-century Dutch silver ducatoons. Around 15,000 coins were found at that time, although this is believed to represent only part of the lost treasure. In the 1990s, the company Sealit recovered thousands of additional coins and artifacts. Merestein

Lot description

Shipwreck coins. Netherlands. 1 ducaton. 1661. Westfriesland. Westfriesland. (Km-46.1). (Dav-4939). Ag. Recovered from the wreck of the Merestein, sunk in 1702 off the coast of South Africa.

Slabbed by NGC as XF Details, Sea Salvaged. Special “Shipwreck Blue Label”.

The Merestein, a Dutch East India Company ship, was sailing eastward when she attempted to enter Saldanha Bay to relieve the severe scurvy affecting the crew. On 3 April 1702, she struck the reefs at the southwestern end of Jutten Island and, within hours, was smashed to pieces.

The ship carried several chests of silver coins intended for trade in the East Indies, prompting immediate salvage attempts. However, the difficult diving conditions in the area caused the operations to be abandoned until modern times.

The wreck was rediscovered and salvaged in the early 1970s, yielding almost exclusively 17th-century Dutch silver ducatoons. Around 15,000 coins were found at that time, although this is believed to represent only part of the lost treasure. In the 1990s, the company Sealit recovered thousands of additional coins and artifacts. Est...400,00.

Starting bid

150 €

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Lot 276 | Spanish Monarchy

Historical Background

Lot description