Watch List notes:

Large silver ingot 296 from Potosí, Class Factor 1.0, 86 lb 5.44 oz troy, marked with mint/date Po1621, fineness IUU CCC L XXX (2380/2400) and assayer Mexía cartouche, owner/shipper marks, tax stamps, and manifest number IIIIUCXCIII (4193), ex-Atocha (1622). 13¼" x 5¼" x 3½". A lovely Class Factor-1.0 ingot (meaning all markings visible, minimal surface corrosion) with particularly bold diamond-topped AR monogram (for owner Arriola), "magic wand" (unknown), and B (also unknown) in one corner, also with silvermaster V (for de Vreder) in another corner, bold manifest number and fineness in center, and all-important PoI6ZI cartouche above the AR monogram, most of four circular tax stamps of Philip III interspersed throughout. Right in the very middle is the peanut-shaped "double-scoop" assayer's "bite" that characterize Potosí bars. Overall, a very nice display and one of the best-marked bars we have offered.

It is interesting to note that Lorenzo de Arriola (the owner represented by the AR monogram on this bar), who had over 66 bars loaded on the Atocha (roughly 6% of all the bars being shipped) perished in the wreck. From the Atocha (1622), with original Mel Fisher photo-certificate 85A-S296.

Estimate: 50000 - 75000 USD