Gold Disc Physical Object


Accession Number
1986.008.0047
Alternate object names
Gold Disk;Gold;Ingot;Bar
Materials
Description
Half of a gold disc recovered from the wreck of the 1622 galleon Santa Margarita. The disc was partially cut midway with a chisel and then broken at this scoreline. This piece bears marks: one style is a quadrant shield that likely indicates taxes had been paid; another is the Roman numeral XXIIII••• meaning the gold is 23 3/4 karats, or nearly pure gold. Dimensions: 18.7 cm L x 9.3 cm W x 1.8 cm H x 2,701.7 grams.

Dimensions

1.8 cm H x 9.3 cm W x 18.7 cm L , Item (Overall)

2,701.7 g Weight

1.8 cm Thickness

18.7 x 9.3 x 1.8 cm Weight: 2701.7 grams Previous registrar weight: 2707 grams. Weight difference probably caused by older less accurate scales and expert taking sample for purity measurement.

Exhibition Label
Case/Object Caption (2023):

The impressively casual way in which these gold discs, bars, and chunks have been cast speaks to the haste in which the great wealth of the Americas was shipped to Spain each year. However, once the gold was formed into these shapes, it was carefully inventoried. Roman numerals certify the purity of gold in karats, indicating that the pieces here are between 20 and 23 karats out of a possible 24. Other marks show that the gold came from the Colombian Andes. Colonial governments were not yet allowed to mint gold coins when the fleet sailed, so shipping gold in these rough ingots was the only way to get it to Europe. The half disc weighs 2701.7 grams – a bit over 87 Troy ounces or nearly six pounds.
Previous Case Caption (Removed 2022):  Gold Bullion 20.5 – 23.75 Karats Recovered from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, Santa Margarita & Buen Jesus Gift of Jamestown Treasure Salvors, Inc. & acquired through donation. Ingots are marked with a variety of stamps, including circular tax stamps, mintmarks, Roman numerals to signify the purity of the gold in karats, and Arabic numerals denoting their weight. Marks are located in several areas on the ingots so that when they were cut to a desired weight the pieces would still bear some portion of the official stamps. According to their manifests, the Atocha carried 125 gold ingots, discs and bits, and the Santa Margarita had 34 pieces. Over 220 ingots have been recovered from these ships to date, suggesting at least 60 pieces were contraband. Smuggled ingots bear no tax stamps only Roman and Arabic numerals. There are two in this case. Can you find them?