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Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC
Treasure Auction 18  29 October 2015
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Lot 1181

Starting price: 6000 USD
Price realized: 16 000 USD
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Gold "money" chain, 118 twisted links, 226.5 grams. 28" long, each link about 3/8" in diameter. An imposing necklace of thick, oval links in twisted, solid (heavy) gold (unknown fineness, probably 22K or better), the same design as was found in substantial numbers on the 1622 Fleet (Atocha and Santa Margarita) but with one difference: These links are fused shut, not open as on the earlier pieces, which were called "money chains" for their ability to be pried open and separated to make payment and thus avoid taxation. The manufacture, however, is essentially the same, as each link is different, and slight wear and traces of sediment and encrustation here and there attest to its shipwreck origin, while notably the length happens to be perfect for slipping over the head and wearing today (albeit without an original clasp to complete the circuit, just a small piece of copper wire holding it in place currently). With Certificate.

Estimate: $7500
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