2 Escudo
Physical Object
1989.005.0001
Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)
Almost all the gold coins from the 1622 fleet were minted in Spain, as permission had not yet been granted to American mints to strike them. This example is a small, thick, 2-escudo coin likely minted in Seville. The planchet has an uneven surface, and the impression of the die did not apply evenly; the mint and assayer marks were not stamped on this coin, and the Hapsburg shield is incomplete. The piece was clipped along the edges to bring it to the proper weight for the denomination, and that clipping further removed portions of the legend. On the obverse, only the letters “LIPP” of Philippus (King Philip) can be seen. On the reverse, the “PAN” of Hispaniarum (Spain) is all that survives of the legend. The reverse bears most of a cross potent surrounded by a tressure and floral elements, design motifs typical of the Seville mint.
6.65 g Weight