Spanish 4 Reales Cob — São José, sunk 1622

From the contested waters of the Mozambique Channel, four centuries after the battle.In 1622, the Portuguese carrack São José left Lisbon for Goa, India, carrying Spanish silver to fuel the lucrative spice trade. As she navigated the dangerous passage off the coast of East Africa, the vessel was intercepted by a hostile Anglo-Dutch fleet. Outmatched, the São José was attacked and sunk, her silver spilling across the seafloor and her mission cut short.This is a 4 Reales silver cob recovered from the wreck, certified by NGC and exhibiting heavy saltwater effect from its centuries on the seabed. The coin was struck in Spain between 1591 and 1616, during the reign of Philip III.A relic of the Iberian Union, this coin was an instrument of global trade, meant to bridge the markets of Europe and Asia. Its violent loss marks a distinct moment in the long, often brutal, contest for control of the spice routes.Your acquisition includes a TreasureCheck.ai digital provenance record and FedEx insured shipping with signature required.Carry Their Story.

From the research desk

The four reales from our São José pairing, offered on its own. The São José went down in the Mozambique Channel in 1622 and was worked by Arqueonautas; the coins came back certified by NGC with the wreck named. Half the silver of a piece of eight, the same documented chain of custody.