1744 8 Reales Pillar (Felipe V)
One of only two coins confirmed from HMS Looe - with a salvage pedigree tracing through Cruz, McKee, and Eidel.
- Country
- Mexico (Spanish Colonial)
- Metal
- Silver
- Mint
- Mexico City (MO), Assayer MF
- NGC Grade
- XF Details · Sea Salvaged
- NGC Cert #
- 6922442-001
- Pedigree
- Ex: Bob Cruz → Art McKee → Charles Eidel
How the coin reached the seabed.
Dispatched to protect Charleston, South Carolina from Spanish attack, HMS Looe began patrolling the Florida Straits. In January 1744, her crew identified the Billander Betty - a British merchantman that had been captured by the Spanish and pressed into service. After a two-day chase, HMS Looe sailed with her capture in tow back to Charleston.
On February 5th, 1744, north of modern-day Key West, a strong wind grounded the Looe on a reef, stranding her crew. Taking the ship's longboat, the crew managed to chase down a passing Spanish sloop and capture her. Before the survivors set sail for Charleston, HMS Looe's stockpile of gunpowder was blown - scuttling her and scattering her wreckage over a wide area.
The history of this coin post-salvage is just as remarkable as its history aboard the ship. In 1951, Tom Gurr led a salvage operation looking for the 1733 Fleet. While he did not find that fleet, a number of other ships were discovered - including HMS Looe. This coin was one of two confirmed to have been recovered by Bob Cruz from the wreck (the other being a 1720 Sweden Öre; Bob Weller reported a possible third coin, but no further details survive).
The piece then passed into the possession of Art McKee, with his wife signing a Certificate of Authenticity attesting to its provenance. Sometime after 1980, Charles Eidel purchased the coin, and it remained in his collection until two appearances in Sedwick Auctions (Auction 20, Lot 511, and Auction 32, Lot 293).
This 1744 Mexico City Pillar 8 Reales of Felipe V - assayer MF - is now certified by NGC and pedigreed to the HMS Looe within The Knapton Collection.