It’s no secret that we have an ongoing fascination with EO’s (encrusted objects). To us these items have a certain charisma. Our Treasure of the Month for April is a prime example of this charm. This 14 coin aggregate ( informally referred to as a “clump”) weighs in at a respectable 185 grams and is 2”wide, 2 ¾ “ long and 1 ½” thick. Consisting of 1 eight reales and 13 four reales, these coins show none of the ocean corrosion that is so commonly found on many other sea salvaged silver coins. It is, indeed, an impressive specimen. Fortunately, the current owner was able to give us a little background on the history of this aggregate.
It appears that in the early 60’s the original owner (who worked for Bendix Corporation) was approached by Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks. He ... who was looking for investors to finance a salvage operation.(Wagner, at the time, was President of the Real Eight CompanyAlso referred to occasionally as “The Real 8 Company”- was incorporated in 1961. It had eight members….Kip Wagner, Kip Kelso, Dan Thompson, Harry Cannon, Lou Ullian, Del Long, Erv Taylor and Lis...). The investment was paid back in the form of salvaged coins and several aggregates. Our featured treasure is one of those aggregates. The current owner acquired this item from the family of the original owner in 2015.
In addition to some background information, we were also provided with pictures of what the original aggregate looked like before, during and after conservation.
Other EO’s were previously featured in February 2012, May 2014, January 2015, February 2015, and October 2015.
