Accession Number

1987.006.0072

Alternate object names

Coin

Description

A silver coin with a denomination of 8 reales comes from the wreck of the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. It is an example of what is popularly known as a “piece of eight.” This coin is 3.7 cm diameter and weighs 26.9 grams. The “P” mintmark to the left of the shield shows it was struck at Potosí in the Andes Mountains of modern-day Bolivia. The “PAL” mark below is that of an assayer named Palencia, who worked at the mint in 1617-18, and along the edge of the cross side of this coin is the date when he oversaw its striking, 1618.