Eight real of King Philip IV of Spain, excavated from the wreck site of the ZUYTDORP
Datec 1652
Object number00048985
NameCoin
MediumSilver
DimensionsOverall: 43 x 33 mm, 25.76 g
ClassificationsCoins and medals
Credit LineANMM Collection Transferred from Australian Netherlands Committee on Old Dutch Shipwrecks
HistoryThe eight reales coin originated in the Spanish colonies of South America during the sixteenth century. In an effort to export the silver of the New World back to Spain quickly, the colonial mints produced irregular coinage called cobs. These were made from a bar of silver cut into pieces of the appropriate weight and stamped with official insignia. This production method resulted in cobs of various sizes, shapes and with inconsistent impressions.
Once in Spain, some cobs were melted down to produce other silver items, however many found their way into circulation and were commonly used in trade. It was not uncommon for cobs to be clipped, reducing the weight and value of the piece. The crude production of these coins meant that such practices were hard to stop.SignificanceAssociated with the oldest Dutch shipwreck discovered on the Australian coast this silver coin is representative of European presence near the Australian continent in the 17th century.
