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 Guatemala

City: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Mint mark: G
Years active: 1733–1821
Metals: Silver
Assayers: J Juan Bautista de Arostegui; J Juan de Ybáñez; P Pedro Sánchez de Guzmán; P Pedro de Benegas; M Manuel Eusebio Sánchez; M Manuel de Ezcurra

A smaller regional mint that produced distinctive coins for Central America during the final century of Spanish colonial rule.

History

The Guatemala mint was a latecomer to the colonial minting system, not beginning operations until 1733 — nearly 200 years after Mexico City's mint opened. Its establishment reflected the growing administrative complexity of Spain's American colonies and the need for local coinage in Central America. Production at Guatemala was modest compared to the great mints of Mexico City, Potosí, and Lima. The mint primarily struck silver coins in smaller denominations, serving the local economy of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, which encompassed modern-day Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Guatemala's coins are distinguished by the "G" mint mark and are relatively uncommon compared to coins from larger mints. This scarcity makes them particularly interesting to collectors and numismatists. The mint produced both milled pillar-type and bust-type coinage, following the design standards set by the Spanish crown. The mint ceased operations with Central American independence in 1821, ending less than a century of production. Its relatively short operational period and limited output make Guatemala-minted colonial coins among the scarcer pieces in the Spanish colonial series.

Notable features

Smallest output of the major colonial mints
Coins are scarcer and command premium prices
Served five modern-day Central American nations
Only produced milled coinage — no cob era

Coin types

Silver
Silver

Monarch periods

Philip V — Mint opened under Philip V. First coins struck are pillar-type milled coinage.
Ferdinand VI — Modest output continues. Guatemala pillar dollars are among the rarest of all colonial mints.
Charles III — Transition from pillar to bust type in 1772. Devastating earthquake destroyed the original Antigua Guatemala mint in 1773; operations moved to the new capital.
Charles IV — Steady bust-type production. Guatemala coins circulate throughout Central America.
Ferdinand VII — Final colonial issues. Mint closes with Central American independence in 1821.