Get ready to uncover a piece of high-seas treasure history! This captivating artifact is a gold bar from the infamous “Golden Fleece” shipwreck, a vessel that met its fate in the northern Caribbean, a tantalizing glimpse into the tumultuous world of Charles V and Joanna of Castile. The bar, a stunning 10.91 grams of gold, is a relic from around 1550 and measures 38x15x3mm. It has been identified through an XRF scan as 17.25K gold, a hallmark of its rich, refined composition.
*According to Heritage Auctions, this piece is attributed to the Golden Fleece shipwreck based on information from their consignor. Heritage was confident enough in this attribution to market the artifact as such, given that they are the largest auction house in the world for numismatics.*
A Glittering Fragment of History 
This captivating chunk of gold, weighing a mere 10.91 grams, is no ordinary trinket. Measuring 38x15x3mm, it’s a slice of a larger “finger” bar, bearing the enigmatic stamp “XVII” – a testament to its 17-karat purity. This golden morsel isn’t just precious metal; it’s a window into a world where coins had yet to reign supreme, and raw ingots were the currency of choice.  Larger ingots were cut into smaller pieces for use in trade, and this bar bears a nearly complete XVII stamp indicating its purity. The craftsmanship and practical nature of this bar reveal the innovative ways people adapted to the challenges of their time.
The Golden Fleece: A Sunken Treasure Trove 
The Golden Fleece shipwreck, nestled in the azure waters of the northern Caribbean, has yielded a cornucopia of numismatic wonders. The source of this remarkable gold bar, is renowned for its royal stamping and the treasure it held. This vessel was laden with gold and silver ingots that bore the same “Golden Fleece” mark, hinting at a significant connection to royal and colonial economies. Salvaged pieces of these ingots, along with a rare collection of coins, provide a unique glimpse into the colonial era’s trade practices and minting techniques.