September 2011 Treasure of the Month

September’s featured treasure is this gorgeous 1715 Fleet eight escudos produced at the Spanish colonial mint in Lima. By any measure of rarity, the 1705 Lima is a rare Fleet coin. Only a handful of specimens are known, including the two held in the State of Florida Collection. For those of you who like your Fleet onzas in original condition, this is a coin you would want to own. This onza is covered in Florida corals and has the polychrome patination one would see on many gold cobs fresh from the ocean. Strongly struck, this coin has none of the doubling that afflicts rare-date Limas. This coin comes with a certificate of origin and authenticity prepared by Captain Marty Meylach.