Medallion

Accession Number1988.001.0001

VesselNuestra Señora de Atocha (1622)

DescriptionA reproduction of a stone amulet recovered from the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha is cast from the original. The stone is unidentified, though it appears to be a type of serpentine. It was cut or abraded into a flat, roughly triangular shape 5.2 centimeters tall and 0.7 centimeters thick. It is pierced at the top, suggesting the piece was meant to be suspended, likely as personal adornment. The two broad faces are inscribed. One bears the letters “IHS”, a widely used Catholic monogram for first three letters of Christ’s name in Greek (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ), topped by a cross. The other side is inscribed with the combined letters “MAR.” Considering the Christian significance of the opposing inscription, these letters are most likely an abbreviation of Maria, or Mary, the mother of Christ and an equally venerated figure for many Catholics.