This eight reale was recovered from the wreck of the Consolacion, which was attacked by pirates and sunk in 1681 at the "Isla de Muerto" on the coast of Ecuador. The Isla de Muerto was made famous by the movie "Pirates of the Carribean". All 350 passengers and crew were murdered by the pirates, but they didn't get much of the treasure. These coins have been salvaged in the last few years. This silver piece of eight is dated 1679. It was minted at the Potosi Mint by Assayer V, and is a pillars and waves variety coin. The date is usually at the center bottom of the tic-tac-toe design, and also one can be found at the bottom of the Crusader's Cross on the reverse side. This coin is mounted in a heavy 14 kt. yellow gold bezel with a barrel hoop at the top. This is one of the few coins that have ever been salvaged from a true PIRATE WRECK. It is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and the book "Coins of the Lost Galleons", by K.T. Budde-Jones which describes what treasure coins of the day looked like and how they were made. One hundred years older than the Declaration of Independence.
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