Silver Bar

Accession Number1986.003.0006

VesselNuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)

Datecirca 1620

DescriptionSilver ingot number 120 (note the Roman numeral CXX stamp) recovered from the wreck of the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The ingot was cast in the Andean mining city of Oruro and was being shipped to Spain by Gaspar de Rojas on the account of a man named F. Ramos. Rojas’ mark is the prominent “Rx” and Ramos’ mark is the “F.” Other marks include tax stamps, the purity value, Atocha silvermaster Jacove de Vreder’s “V,” and the assayer’s “scoop,” where a sample of silver was removed at the foundry for purity testing. The ingot is 38.4 centimeters long and weighs 34.9 kilograms (76.95 pounds).