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 Lima

City: Lima, Peru
Mint mark: L
Years active: 1568–present
Metals: Silver, Gold
Assayers: X / XI Alonso de Rincón; D Diego de la Torre; V Cristóbal de Vera y Aragón; H Francisco de la Cruz Hurtado; R Pedro de Bermudo y Roldán; H José de Heras Soto; M Diego Nicolás de Matienzo; N José Ramos de la Cadena y Negro; JM José de Matienzo; JM José Antonio de Matienzo; MJ Miguel de la Maza Jayme; MI Miguel de la Iglesia; MI Miguel de la Iglesia (continued); IJ Ignacio Zenón de Jáuregui; JP José de la Puente

The key Pacific coast mint, striking coins from Peruvian silver to fund the Viceroyalty and supply the Manila galleon trade.

History

Lima's mint was established in 1568 to serve the Viceroyalty of Peru, the administrative heart of Spain's South American empire. While Potosí had the silver mountain, Lima had the political power — and the port. Coins struck in Lima traveled north to Panama, across the isthmus, and onto the treasure fleets bound for Spain. The Lima mint's output was smaller than Potosí's but no less significant. Its coins supplied the Pacific trade routes, including the Manila galleon run between Acapulco and the Philippines. Lima cobs are distinguished by their "L" mint mark and often show finer craftsmanship than their Potosí counterparts, reflecting the capital city's resources and prestige. The mint's history was anything but continuous. Authorized by royal decree in August 1565, it began striking in 1568, then lost its equipment when the operation was moved toward the mines — first to La Plata in 1573 and on to Potosí in 1574. Lima struck again from 1577 until it closed in 1587 (with a small 1592 issue, probably from leftover stock). It was restarted without royal permission in January 1659 during the Potosí fineness crisis and shut again in 1660 by order of Philip IV. Only with the Duke of la Palata's arrival was the mint reopened for good in the 1680s, and it has operated since. Like Mexico City, Lima transitioned from cob to milled coinage in the 18th century, producing elegant pillar dollars and bust-type coins. Lima-minted coins appear on several notable wrecks, particularly those lost along the Pacific coast and those carrying Peruvian silver across the Atlantic. The mint continues to operate today as part of Peru's central bank, connecting modern Lima to its colonial past through an unbroken tradition of coinage.

Notable features

Struck 1568–1587 (with interruptions), briefly in 1659–1660, then continuously from the 1680s
Known for higher quality cobs than Potosí
Key supplier for Pacific trade routes
Operated under the powerful Viceroyalty of Peru

Coin types

Silver
Gold
Silver
Silver
Gold

Monarch periods

Philip II — Mint opened in 1568 under Philip II and struck, with interruptions, until its 1587 closure. First-period Lima coins are very rare.
Philip IV — Lima was restarted in January 1659 without royal authorization during the Potosí fineness crisis, then closed again in 1660 on Philip IV's order. The "Star of Lima" design distinguishes these reopen-era cobs.
Charles II — Steady cob production. Pillar-and-waves design adopted matching other colonial mints.
Philip V — Continued cob production with Bourbon shield. Gold cob coinage begins at Lima in 1696.
Ferdinand VI — Transition to milled coinage begins in 1751. Lima was one of the earliest to adopt pillar milled coinage.
Charles III — Pillar to bust transition in 1772. Lima bust coins are known for excellent detail.
Charles IV — High-volume bust coinage. Lima remained loyal to the crown during early independence movements.
Ferdinand VII — Final royalist coinage. Lima was the last major mint to fall during South American independence.