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.

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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.

Hollandia

Lost: 1743
Location: Scilly Isles, off Cornwall, England
Coordinates: 49.8500, -6.4000
Era: Dutch East India Company (VOC)
Coinage: milled
Discovered by: Rex Cowan
Recovery: 1971
Cargo: Mexican Pillar dollars, Dutch silver, Bar silver

VOC East Indiaman lost on the Gunner Rock in the Scilly Isles on her maiden voyage with a full cargo of silver bullion.

History

The Hollandia sailed from Texel on 3 July 1743 for Batavia on her maiden voyage. Ten days out, separated from her convoy in poor visibility, she struck Gunner Rock at the edge of the Scilly Isles on 13 July 1743 and went down with all 306 aboard (276 crew and soldiers, 30 passengers). Contemporary VOC records document a heavy cargo of silver — mostly Mexican 8-reales Pillar dollars — for the Asian trade.

Recovery

British researcher Rex Cowan located the site in 1971 in one of the earliest modern archaeological wreck excavations under the UK Protection of Wrecks Act. Recovery produced tens of thousands of Pillar dollars, cannon, and personal effects. The Hollandia excavation is often cited as a founding case study of UK wreck heritage practice.

Timeline

1742 — Launched at Amsterdam — Enters VOC service.
1743 — Maiden Voyage — Sails from Texel on 3 July for Batavia.
1743 — Wrecked on Gunner Rock — Loss with all 306 aboard on 13 July in poor visibility.
1971 — Located by Cowan — One of the earliest wrecks worked under the UK PWA.
1970s–1980s — Silver Recovered — Tens of thousands of Pillar dollars lifted.

Notes

Sank on her maiden voyage with all 306 aboard
Excavation is a founding case study of UK wreck heritage law
Yielded more than 35,000 silver coins