Real Eight Co., Inc (Treasure Hunters) - Florida 1972

Beautifully engraved certificate from the Real Eight Co., Inc issued in 1972. This historic document was printed by Security-Columbian Banknote Company and has an ornate block border with a vignette of a Real Eight Spanish Coin. This item has the printed signatures of the company's officers, Harry Cannon as President and is over 35 years old.


Certificate Vignette

Kip Wagner and the Real Eight Co. first found treasure on the Florida coast in the early 60's since then thousands of coins and artifacts have come from the wreck sites.

Arguably the most significant find in Spanish colonial numismatics, this series of shipwrecks off the east coast of Florida produced thousands of gold and silver cobs, including about 90% of the known population of gold "Pieces of Eight" or "Cob" as well as some of the most beautiful gold jewelry the world has known. Gold cobs especially felt a huge impact from the 1715 fleet, which produced many dates and types that had never been seen before.

A convoy of twelve treasure-laden ships, the 1715 fleet was headed back to Spain when it encountered a hurricane in July of 1715 off the east coast of Florida. All but one of the ships sank, many close to shore. The survivors set up camps and salvage efforts soon commenced. Although much of the registered cargo was recovered by the Spaniards, a great deal of unregistered goods remained, occasionally washing ashore in the centuries that followed.

The 1715 fleet was essentially re-discovered by Kip Wagner in the 1950s, who began large-scale recovery efforts under the name Real Eight Company off the coast of Florida. Coins found date from 1712 to 1715 and were minted under Philip V of Spain.