The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 12, March 25, 2007, Article 20

IS 1536 MEXICAN FOUR REAL A SHIP'S MAST COIN?

Richard Becker writes: "In this issue there was an interesting
commentary titled "Stepping the ships mast" where the ancient custom
of placing a coin under the mast pole of a newly commissioned ship
was discussed. The final question asked was if any reader owned such
an authenticated coin that had been used in such a ceremony. Over 20
years ago I purchased what I believe is such a coin.

At a local antique fair a dealer showed me a 1536 Mexico Carlos y Johanna
4 real (first issue) coin that was choice about uncirculated condition
but which had a crude hole punched through it with an antique square
nail.  The story that went with it was that the coin had been attached
to a large piece of ship mast that was found buried on the shore of
eastern Florida. Presumably this would have been one of the many ships
that transported the wealth of the new world from Mexico to Spain.

However the coin had long ago been removed from the wood due to the
bulkiness of it. (they also had lost the nail) !!!  Well, anyhow, to
make a long story short, I purchased the coin for, I believe, $20 and
still have it as part of my Mexican type collection.  I believe it was
too tall a tale for someone, who obviously had very little knowledge
of coins, to make up just to sell a coin that, without the hole would
have been worth thousands, but in it's present state was only a
curiosity."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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