Silver Bar

Accession Number1986.003.0008

VesselNuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)

Date1621

DescriptionThis loaf-shaped silver ingot was being shipped to Spain by Miguel de Uzarraga, via Miguel de Munibe, to a person named Rodriguez. The ingot bears multiple marks and stamps. A “P16Z1” shows that it was cast at the Andean city of Potosí in 1621; the Roman numeral IIUDCCCVIII (2808) tells that it was the 2808^th such ingot cast there that year. Other marks include the Roman numeral IIUCCCLXXX, which indicates the silver was 2380 out of 2400 parts pure; Uzarraga’s large personal mark, a combined U and A; shield-style tax stamps; and the “V” of Atocha silvermaster Jacobo de Vreder, indicating he had accounted for the bar’s presence on the galleon.