#piratesunday: El Cazador’s 1774 Mexican Colonial 2 Reales from Nyssacat373
”Blackbirds tend to like shiny things.” ~ The Bloody Raven
The showering of gifts from Nyssacat373 continues from last week’s #piratesunday post.
Many Stackers, treasure hunters, aficionados of Shipwreck silver, and Pirate at heart will recognize the legendary name of El Cazador, and the discovery of her lost treasure that had arguably changed history.
While this version of El Cazador Treasure is not like the high grade, certified, slabbed and put up on a Sotheby’s Numismatic Auctions version. It was authentic to me, easily identifiable upon observation, and I liked the feel of the physical coin rather than having it locked up in plastic.
It’s not only silver but a tangible piece of history. I can do without the fancy labels and grading, after all, I’m a Silver Stacking Pirate on a budget and not a bloody Financial Advisor.
And while there are plenty of publicity and articles of this discovery of this lost Treasure since 1993, yet there was scant information surrounding the fate of ship and crew. Naturally, I find myself much more interested in the ship itself.
Our Treasure 2 Reales Coin: Close up
The El Cazador sailing ship’s name is translated as, “The Hunter”. It was not a large ship, a 90-foot Brigantine of war that could be armed up to 18 Guns and a crew complement of up to a hundred men. She is designed to be agile, fast, with a shallow draft, and enough armament to pursue and hunt down pirates and smugglers in the shallows or up a river. The vessel is a two masted ship, unlike the generic Image supplied on the card that came with the coin.
Our Second Coin, Another El Cazador Shipwreck minor!
The colony of Louisiana was ceded earlier by the French to the Spanish. Battered by natural setbacks and an economy languishing on improvised extended credit, hard currency was needed, and continued neglect will eventually lead to a poor outcome. So, to avoid the violent demonstrations and possible succession of the Colony, Carlos III made the order to send the equivalent of 450,000 in silver Pesos from Vera Cruz to New Orleans to exchange the paper script for silver in New Orleans. 37,500 pounds of coin.
The El Cazador set out on January 11th, 1784 and was never heard from again.
So, what happened to the El Cazador?
Most historians simply theorized that the ship had succumbed to a storm. But Writer E. Anderson Bullock makes the claim that seems an outlandish on its surface, that this unfortunate Spanish Brig of War was sunk in a freak Mississippi Ice Floe on February 1784, 50 miles short of New Orleans. It is a compelling argument when you read the whole article here.
"Manifest Destiny arguments aside, the El Cazador may have actually achieved another notable place in history that stands on its own. To my knowledge, it is probably the only ship in recorded history to be sunk by ice in the Gulf of Mexico. That alone should put it in the book of records." ~ E.A. Bullock
19 Tons of silver was a significant amount of weight for a 90-ton ship not necessarily designed for transport of goods in addition to it’s compliment in armament. Commanding was an experienced officer Lt. Gabriel de Campos y Pineda is a loyal and competent officer to the crown.
A size and strike comparison of an intact 1782 Mexican Colonial 1 Reale to the damaged shipwreck ½ Reale. And by the nose of Carlos III on the obverse and Hispanic Arms on the Reverse we can identify the coin despite the loss of most features.
As a side note, it has been inferred that the designer of the coin’s obverse deliberately but subtly exaggerated the King’s nose for an unknown reason. Poor Leadership? Economic incompetence? This was from a comment by another more learned collector I met at a coin show a few years ago. Sadly, that person had passed on before I could learn more.
Bullock’s corroborating data of personal weather observations by the Colonists, reports of river ships destroyed and sunk by ice floes, severe changes in wind and temperature, reported blockages of river crossings, the effect of El Nino on the Gulf Stream, Arctic weather outflow all combine to stage a once-in-every 150 year event that sent a treasure laden ship to the bottom of the sea and leaving no survivors but only a mystery.
In 1993 A fishing vessel named ‘The Mistake’ hauls up a treasure thought lost for good only to begin the unraveling of a mystery of how the El Cazador was lost and bring back to life the economic and political history of Louisiana’s colonial past.
Like ghosts of the past these storied coins should remind us of not just the vital role hard currency was needed to develop a colony but remind us also of the courageous crew of the El Cazador that tried their best in suddenly terrible circumstances that had befallen them.
Bullock also makes a point of political intrigue. There was more to the story of how the colony may be only a part of a much bigger plan.
"The loss of the El Cazador’s silver was at least a nail in that coffin, though it was obviously not the single defining reason for the eventual sale of Louisiana back to France. " ~ E.A. Bullock
Historical Shipwreck silver, another awesome gift from ☠ Captain Nyssacat373! 💋 And with more yet to come! And my humble apologies for a late post.
Thank you for coming aboard unto me pirate blog today!
The #piratesunday tag is the scurvy scheme of Captain @stokjockey for #silvergoldstackers pirates to proudly showcase their shiny booty and plunder for all to see. Landlubbers arrrh…welcomed to participate and be a Pirate at heart so open yer treasure chests an’ show us what booty yea got!
Sources
References
“Et lux in tenebris to serve laboro, sum sicarius” “I work in the shadows to serve the Light, I am an Assassin”
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Sometimes it's nice to have slabbed coins when they are mint but sometimes it is sometimes nice to feel the history of a coin in your hand
As a 15th Century Vampire, The Bloody Raven claims to be able to sense and discern the spirit energy trapped within a cursed item of silver. Not necessarily a Soul, sometimes a trapped demon, but oft an a paranormal impression upon the artifact caused often by violent emotional trauma of the victim(s) at their death.
So, The Bloody Raven is a Touchy, Feely kind of person.
Thanks for dropping in @monsterjamgold ☠ ⚔ ⚓
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Great post ARRR . ARRRR is now a crypo coin for pirates. 100% discrecy or alike. I might look for some nice silver soon to make another piratesunday post (not as good as your's ofcourse)
Thanks for Commenting @goldrooster
1782 Mexican 1 Reale, 1723 Spanish 2 Reales, 1721 Spanish 2 Reales (N0t El Cazador)
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That is quite a collection... and be proud of!
Congratulations!!!!
I know you are into those (as well) and I am glad Mr Nyssacat373 understands your passion.
I have one coin retrieve from the El Cazador.
Hugs and Kisses 🥰🌺🤙!!
I remember than you have acquired one of these fabulous coins a while back so I tried to find the article but it took too long so I wasn't able to link it in my post. The Search feature kind of sucks.
I may still keep trying to get a better quality Coin yet, slabbed or Not.
Even at the steep cost of shipping just for the purpose having a nice specimen.
Arrrrh! 18th century Stackitis!
I'm glad you posted the picture of your El Cazador, in these comments Sis.
Always, with love 🤗 🌺 💖 ☠ ⚔ ⚓
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I knew you would want to see it, being that you are into these coins.
18th-century Stackitis... hehehe!
Mine is going to the permastack, and I suppose yours too.
I can't believe 45 people are watching this
I doubt that the seller would drop the price even a sliver with all those eyeballs on it.
Someone has to make the first move!
Too bad the Seller don't take Dogecoin! Yet!
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Hahaha... you made it big with Dogecoin.
Oh BTW, a now have two wallets... because Coinbase does not take Doge.
Much more affordable than the Atocha as well! Marketing!
LUV!
Oops, I did that wrong......
!LUV
You cannot send the token to yourself.
Mel Fisher went Top Shelf in marketing his Treasure find.
He deserves every cent considering what it truly cost him.
And it cost him dearly.
It was as if the Treasure came with a curse.
I am familiar with the premium Ebay prices on Atochia Coins and they are....
UN REALE!!!
😆 🤣
Glad to 'ave yea aboard @jackofcrows
Replica Atocha 8 Reale Cobs by the Moonlight Mint
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The only wreck coin I have is an Admiral Gardner. I need to pull the trigger on a Cazador
Since I failed at sending this twice here's another go!
!LUV
Sorry, you're out of LUV tokens to be sent today. Try tomorrow. (Having at least 10 LUV in your wallet allows you to freely give 3 per day.)
That is so awesome. Just think of who could’ve held that coin.....
Just think of what could have happen if the El Cazador made it to New Orleans. Only 50 miles short!
Would General Santa Anna have conquered Texas and the entire West coast?
Would Spain or Mexico be today's superpower?
Would we be speaking Spanish by now?
The Peso be the world reserve currency?
And I would have a hell of a lot of Mexican Libertads rather than Maple Leafs by now, Lol!
Gracias senor @silverd510 for your probing comment.
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Woulda coulda shoulda but didn’t. Ola Amiga.....🌮🥟🍹
This post has received a 100.00% upvote from @fambalam! Join thealliance community to get whitelisted for delegation to this community service.
I !LUV PirateSilver......
Eighteenth Century Stackitis is REALES-ly something tough to handle!
Thanks for dropping in @stokjockey
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Hi @kerrislravenhill, you were just shared some LUV thanks to @stokjockey. Holding 10 LUV in your wallet enables you to give up to 3 LUV per day, for free. See the LUV in your wallet at https://hive-engine.com or learn about LUV at https://peakd.com/@luvshares
Thanks for sharing the interesting story, @kerrislravenhill. Old Mexican Silver Coins are some of the best.
Aye, and a many stories I can tell.
REALE stories, tall tale and even taller tales at that.
We kin use more Mexican silver, my Mexican Stack seems much under-represented at this time. With 2021 Libertads going for 150% of spot at my Retailer, "Avast, I call out Piracy I tell yea, piracy!"
Gracias senor @cve3 may King Carlos III favor yea
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How wonderful to hold a piece of history that old, in your hand! If they could only talk! Sunk by ice? Does it say anywhere in your research how ice came to be in the Gulf of Mexico? That is odd, but weather knows how to be contrary, lol! I suppose it could have come down the Mississippi River, but does E.A.Bullock actually say how? Just curious! Kind of cool and very cool that you have that to hold and look at and imagine what it must have been like to be there! Thanks for sharing sis! Have a lovely evening!💜
And only the Crew of the Titanic could understand.
I'll save you scrolling up with the link to the Article;
https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/2016/05/04/buz-bullocks-paper-el-cazador/83672178/
Heavy laden with silver coin.
The El Cazador tacks to a Northern bearing.
It's night time. It's cold, so cold that the crew is ill unprepared for it.
A loud crunching sound as the ship lurches to as stop.
"Santa Maria!" the bow watch couldn't believe seeing the huge ice sheet, about a hundred tons with only a few inches of it above the waves, it's sharp edge buried deep into the bow.
A crew mate screamed from below deck, "We are taking on water fast!"
Not a good situation.
Thanks for commenting @elizabethbit
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I love reading your posts, sis! Always an adventure!💜🤗🌼
You have a small piece of History @kerrislravenhill, this is much more than stacking my friend, you can pass these down to your kids...Fantastic coins!!😀
I was imagining the alternative.
What would happen if the El Cazador made it safe?
A whole lot of history may change and we would be Stacking Libertads instead of ASEs and MLs?
The Butterfly effect?
The Twilight Zone thingy.
Think about that and wonder.... "OOooo Weee oooo..." Cue in Rod Serling...
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😳 History turns on a dime @kerrislravenhill Lol!🤣 Especially if it's a silver dime😇
Looked up on Ebay both Atocha and El Cazador, and whew those are pricey especially the Atocha.
As you say, Pirate gal, "I buy what I like!"
Spend those Dogecoin profits wisely girl.
But I know you will be splurging like a Pirate!
PD
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Participate in the next Power Up Day and try to power-up more HIVE to get a bigger Power-Bee.
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What a collection 😍 OMG
that is some sweet shiny, and Thank you for sharing the history.
When I see things like this I get all like...why don't I ever buy things like this?
I guess I see something I want and.. It just take over, then I see this and like... NEXT time 😁 lol