Are Dark Tide Relics shipwreck coins authentic?

Every shipwreck coin and artifact sold by Dark Tide Relics is authenticated and accompanied by provenance documentation from recognized authorities such as the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, NGC, or PCGS, plus a permanent digital provenance record via TreasureCheck.ai.

Which shipwrecks does Dark Tide Relics specialize in?

Dark Tide Relics curates artifacts from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622), Santa Margarita, the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, El Cazador (1784), SS Central America (1857), Maravillas, Concepción, and other documented Spanish colonial and American Gold Rush wrecks.

How are orders shipped?

All orders ship via FedEx, fully insured and with adult signature required on delivery.

Does Dark Tide Relics buy shipwreck coins from collectors?

Yes. Dark Tide Relics actively acquires authenticated shipwreck coins and collections. Submissions can be made through the Sell Coins program at darktiderelics.com/sell-coins.

Casa de Moneda de Santa Fe de Bogotá

City: Bogotá, Colombia
Mint mark: NR
Years active: 1620–1987
Metals: Gold, Silver
Assayers: A Alonso Turrillo de Yebra; R Juan Rodríguez de Rodas; RS Rodas / Salvador; S Pedro Salvador Sobrino; PRS Various assayers; PORS Pedro de Ocampo / Rodas / Salvador; W Lucas de Ureña (initial used); G Gregorio Mendoza y Castellanos; A Pedro Ángel de Arévalo; S Juan de Sánchez; M José de Mena; S Fernando de Saavedra; J José Prieto de Salazar; JJ José Prieto / Juan Jorge; VJ Victorino de Jáuregui; JJ Juan Jorge de Rodallega; JF José Fernández de Madrid

The gold cob specialist of the colonial mints, striking coins from Colombia's legendary gold deposits in the heart of El Dorado country.

History

The Bogotá mint — officially the Casa de Moneda de Santa Fe — holds a unique place among colonial mints as the primary producer of gold cob coinage. Established in 1620, it was strategically located near Colombia's prolific gold mining regions, which had fueled the legend of El Dorado for over a century. While other mints focused on silver, Bogotá specialized in gold escudos — the coins that represented the ultimate expression of Spanish colonial wealth. The mint mark "NR" (for Nuevo Reino, or New Kingdom) appears on gold cobs found in some of the most famous treasure recoveries in history. Gold cobs from the Bogotá mint are among the most prized finds on any shipwreck. Their relative rarity compared to silver, combined with the inherent value of gold, makes them the crown jewels of treasure hunting. Specimens from the 1715 Fleet and other wrecks command extraordinary prices at auction. The mint's early years were marked by limited production and crude techniques, but by the mid-1600s it had developed into a sophisticated operation. The transition to milled coinage came later than at other mints, reflecting Bogotá's focus on gold, which required different production methods than silver. Coin production continued in Bogotá long after independence — the mint came under Banco de la República administration in 1946 and struck coinage in the capital until 1987, when operations moved to the bank's integrated facility at Ibagué. Today the original mint building in Bogotá's historic La Candelaria district houses the Casa de Moneda museum — one of the finest numismatic collections in South America.

Notable features

Primary gold cob producer in the colonial Americas
Located in El Dorado country near prolific gold mines
NR mint mark is among the most desirable for collectors
Original mint building is now a museum in La Candelaria

Coin types

Gold
Silver
Silver
Silver
Gold

Monarch periods

Philip III — Bogotá mint established in 1620, in the final full year of his reign. Very rare first issues.
Philip IV — Gold cob production ramps up. Bogotá becomes the primary gold source for the treasure fleets.
Charles II — Continued gold dominance. NR-marked gold cobs found on multiple major wrecks.
Philip V — First Bourbon designs on Bogotá gold. Shield style updated to reflect new dynasty.
Ferdinand VI — Transition period. Milled coinage machinery arrives at Bogotá in 1756.
Charles III — Full transition to bust-type coinage. Both gold and silver now machine-struck.
Charles IV — High-quality bust coinage in both metals. Bogotá gold escudos widely circulated.
Ferdinand VII — Final colonial issues before Colombian independence.