Even though our Treasure of the Month for December has been out of production for over 50 years, it still makes a very nice gift. In fact it was a gift presented to me recently by Fleet Society member Frank Noga (Membership #1). It was such a nice present that I felt that it deserved to be our featured treasure for this month. This pen with decorative holder is from the original 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... More Gallery of Spanish Treasure which at the time was located in a few rooms attached to the First National Bank of Satellite Beach, about 35 miles north of Sebastian Florida on highway A1A. The museum opened with great fanfare including a preview VIP opening on April 30, 1965 followed by its official public opening on May 1. The museum remained at this location until June 1968 when it relocated to Cape Canaveral.
Our featured item was one of several gift shop products created for sale at the museum.
The base is lucite and measures 6 ¼ x 2 ¾. Imbedded in the lucite are four gold coin reproductions typical of those found on 1715 Fleet wreck sites. Above the coins are these words:
Real 8 Gallery of Spanish Treasure
Satellite Beach, Florida
Below the coins are these words all in capital letters:
REPRODUCTIONS OF A COMPLETE SET OF GOLD COINS
RECOVERED FROM THE SPANISH TREASURE FLEET
SUNK OFF FLORIDA IN 1715
The base has a holder for a stylus-like ball point pen, which completes the set.
There were other gift shop items that were sold at the Real Eight museums which we wrote about in previous Treasures of the Month including March 2015 (bracelet) and May 2019 (paperweight). For an interesting story about another pen produced by 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... More, see our Treasure of the Month for December 2016.
Many thanks to Frank Noga for his gift and the inspiration for his post.
