Copper Ingot
Physical Object
2001.004.0059
Santa Margarita (1622)
A copper ingot recovered from the wreck of the 1622 galleon Santa Margarita. The copper came from the “El Cobre” mine located in the extreme southeast of Cuba, where it had been mined by African slaves for the Spanish crown. In Spain, the copper was largely used to make bronze artillery. This is a “splash” type ingot formed by molten copper poured into a shallow depression in the ground. 49.5 x 22.0 x 6.5 cm. 50.0 pounds.