Page 68 - Treasure, World & U.S. Coin Auction 17

Santa Margarita, sunk in 1622 west of Key West, Florida

250. Complete gold bar #24, 2267 grams, marked with fineness XVI (16K) and foundry/assayer IVAN / P3, from the Santa
Margarita (1622). 11” x 1-1/4” x 3/4”. Impressively large and clean ingot with two foundry/assayer markings, three finenesses (a putative
fourth fineness lost in a large natural lacuna in the center), seven circular tax stamps, small XVI and three diagonal slashes lightly inscribed
into the surface (probably the assayer’s temporary marking before stamping), somewhat smooth all over, with interesting (early) circular
TREASURE SALVORS stamp impressed on the bottom, right next to a hairline crack (totally stable) circumscribing the center of the bar, the
assayer’s “bite” curiously taken near the bottom and end on one side (as opposed to a corner or top). From the Santa Margarita (1622), with
Fisher photo-certificate #24-M-80. Estimate: $80,000-up.

251. Small, flat Peruvian gold bar #35, 410 grams, marked with fineness XXIII: (23.5K) and assayer MOSQVERA and
foundry CVZCO, from the Santa Margarita (1622). 4” x 1-1/4” x 3/8”. Very attractive bar for its size and clear markings, including
bold fineness in center (two incuse X’s followed by III in one box and : in another) along with a faintly inscribed fineness (temporary mark-
ing), two full assayer cartouches and six circular tax stamps, PLUS a foundry cartouche for Cuzco at one end, the other end with diagonally
sheared assayer’s “bite,” nice coral encrustation in crevices, very similar to the Queen’s Museum specimen (a 1981 exhibit in New York City).
Of all the assayer marks on Atocha and Santa Margarita gold bars, MOSQVERA appears to be the rarest. From the Santa Margarita (1622),
with Fisher photo-certificate #35-M-80. Estimate: $30,000-up.

66