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.

Batavia

Lost: 1629
Location: Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia
Coordinates: -28.4800, 113.7800
Era: Spanish Colonial – Mid-17th Century
Coinage: cob
Discovered by: Hugh Edwards / Max Cramer
Recovery: 1963
Cargo: Silver reales, Silver ingots, Sandstone façade blocks, Trade goods

VOC flagship wrecked on the Houtman Abrolhos off Western Australia on her maiden voyage — the shipwreck famous as much for its mutiny and massacre as for its silver cargo.

History

The Batavia was the newly-built flagship of the VOC when she sailed from Texel in 1628 on her maiden voyage to the East Indies. In June 1629 she struck Morning Reef in the Houtman Abrolhos, an isolated cluster of coral islands off the western Australian coast. Most passengers and crew reached nearby islets alive. What followed became one of the darkest episodes in maritime history: while the commander sailed 3,000 kilometres in an open boat to fetch help from Batavia (Jakarta), the merchant Jeronimus Cornelisz seized control of the survivors and led a mutiny that killed over 100 men, women, and children before rescue arrived.

Recovery

The site was rediscovered in 1963 by Australian diver Max Cramer and journalist Hugh Edwards. The Western Australian Museum has excavated the wreck since 1972 and lifted a substantial section of the hull, which is now displayed at the WA Museum Geraldton. Silver reales, VOC ingots, and even carved sandstone architectural blocks intended for the Batavia city gate have been recovered.

Timeline

1628 — Launched at Amsterdam — Newly built VOC flagship enters service.
1628 — Maiden Voyage — Departs Texel for Batavia with approximately 320–340 aboard.
1629 — Wrecked on Morning Reef — Strikes coral in the Houtman Abrolhos.
1629 — Mutiny and Massacre — Cornelisz-led mutiny kills more than 100 survivors on the islands.
1963 — Rediscovered — Cramer and Edwards locate the wreck field.
1972–Present — WA Museum Excavation — Hull section and cargo lifted and conserved.

Notes

The reconstructed stern is on permanent display at WA Museum Geraldton
The mutiny and massacre are among the most documented in maritime history
Sandstone gate blocks meant for the city of Batavia were recovered from the wreck