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Vintage Atocha Silver Scallop Shell Locket

Vintage Atocha Silver Scallop Shell Locket

$450.00


Description

DATE: Vintage, c.1994

This remarkable vintage locket is made from a silver ingot recovered from the wreck of the Nuestra Sonora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sunk off the Florida Keys in 1622 laden with over 40 tons of gold and silver, and an estimated 70 pounds of Colombian emeralds. The wreck was discovered over 300 years later, in 1985, by Mel Fisher, who had been searching for it since the early '70s. It was a long and dangerous process, involving the death of three of his crew (including his wife and son). Fisher remained resolute in the face of this tragedy, discovering silver bars in 1973 with tally marks matching the Atocha's paperwork, and two years later found five of the ship's cannons. In 1980 they discovered the wreck of the sister ship, the Santa Margarita. Eventually Fisher's determination paid off (after a winning a court battle against the state of Florida who wanted ownership of the treasure), with the galleon's precious cargo - including gold and silver bullion, coins, bars, ingots, and jewellery, as well as 20 bronze cannons, navigational equipment, Native American artefacts, etc. - estimated to be worth around $400 million.

This locket is modelled after a piece of jewellery found in the shipwreck: a scallop shell with cross on the front, opening to reveal the words ATOCHA 1622 engraved under the lid. I was made from one of the silver bars or ingots recovered from the wreck, with English import marks indicating it was retailed in the UK during the mid 1990s. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Locket: 2.7 x 2.1cm

Chain: 16.5 inches

WEIGHT 

15.2g

MARKS 

English import marks (sterling silver) 1994

CONDITION 

Excellent

Vintage Atocha Silver Scallop Shell Locket Vintage Atocha Silver Scallop Shell Locket Vintage Atocha Silver Scallop Shell Locket

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