LOT / Treasure, World Coin & Paper Money Auction 40 / Encrusted large silver bar 505, 53 lb 5.48 oz tr...

Encrusted large silver bar 505, 53 lb 5.48 oz troy (20 kg), fineness unknown, no visible markings, e

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Shipwreck Ingots Start Price:32,500.00 USD Estimated At:40,000.00 - 80,000.00 USD

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Encrusted large silver bar 505, 53 lb 5.48 oz troy (20 kg), fineness unknown, no visible markings, ex-Santa Margarita (1622), ex-Morse. 15" x 5" x 2½". It is hard to know what to make of this bar! For starters, it is one of very few bars that Treasure Salvors left totally encrusted, just as it was found in 1980 (the "mini-mother lode" find when the shipwreck was confirmed to be Santa Margarita), its special nature evident far ahead of our time of XRF testing, which indicates the surface content (in the few places where the silver is exposed) to be as little as 40% silver and as much as 36% lead, with a gold content between 2.5% and 5%! Our best conclusion, especially considering a 78% copper ridge within the white crust on top, is that this silver bar was either contained in some sort of special box or was wrapped in lead, either way almost certainly contraband. While a small section of the top edge has been cleaned to show the dark silver (same for an area on the bottom where Treasure Salvors stamped the number 505, matching a sticker on top), the next owner might consider carefully cleaning off more of the top crust to see what markings are underneath, maybe even a double-scoop assayer's "bite" for Potosí, considering there does not seem to be any cylindrical version (for Oruro) on either end. In the meantime this unique piece makes for a great "au naturel" display with mysteries within. Note: The certificate inexplicably gives the weight as "43 lbs [av] [or] 638.68 Troy Ounces," whereas our own measurement is 641.48 oz troy (53 lb 5.48 oz troy). From the Santa Margarita (1622), with original Fisher photo-certificate 505-M-80 dated November 1, 1982, pedigreed to the J.M. Morse III Collection. If Tax Number is requested and supplied, buyer will be exempt from paying tax on his invoice. (FLORIDA) NOTE: Read the terms and conditions or contact us regarding possible tax collection outside of Florida.

Taxes:

Tax	Rate	Desc.
FSTA	6.75%	Florida Sales Tax - Alachua
FSTB	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Baker
FSTB	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Bay
FSTB	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Bradford
FSTB	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Brevard
FSTB	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Broward
FSTC	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Calhoun
FSTC	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Charlotte
FSTC	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Citrus
FSTC	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Clay
FSTC	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Collier
FSTC	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Columbia
FSTD	7%	Florida Sales Tax - De Soto
FSTD	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Dixie
FSTD	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Duval
FSTE	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Escambia
FSTF	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Flagler
FSTF	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Franklin
FSTG	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Gadsden
FSTG	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Gilchrist
FSTG	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Glades
FSTG	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Gulf
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hamilton
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hardee
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hendry
FSTH	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Hernando
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Highlands
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Hillsborough
FSTH	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Holmes
FSTI	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Indian River
FSTJ	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Jackson
FSTJ	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Jefferson
FSTJ	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Lafayette
FSTL	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Lake
FSTL	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Lee
FSTL	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Leon
FSTL	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Levy
FSTL	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Liberty
FSTM	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Madison
FSTM	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Manatee
FSTM	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Marion
FSTM	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Martin
FSTM	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Miami-Dade
FSTM	7.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Monroe
FSTN	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Nassau
FSTO	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Okaloosa
FSTO	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Okeechobee
FSTO	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Orange
FSTO	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Osceola
FSTP	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Palm Beach
FSTP	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Pasco
FSTP	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Pinellas
FSTP	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Polk
FSTP	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Putnam
FSTS	6%	Florida Sales Tax - Saint Johns
FSTS	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Santa Rosa
FSTS	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Seminole
FSTS	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Sumter
FSTS	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Suwannee
FSTT	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Taylor
FSTU	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Union
FSTV	6.5%	Florida Sales Tax - Volusia
FSTW	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Wakulla
FSTW	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Walton
FSTW	7%	Florida Sales Tax - Washington

Buyer's Premiums:

From (Incl.)	To (Excl.)	Premium
0.00	Infinite	22%

Additional Fees:

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Latest update: 07/29/26

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This lot is part of the auction: Treasure, World Coin & Paper Money Auction 40 Back To Catalog Listing

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From (Incl.)	To (Excl.)	Increment
0.00	50.00	2.00
50.00	100.00	5.00
100.00	200.00	10.00
200.00	300.00	20.00
300.00	500.00	25.00
500.00	1,000.00	50.00
1,000.00	2,000.00	100.00
2,000.00	3,000.00	200.00
3,000.00	5,000.00	250.00
5,000.00	10,000.00	500.00
10,000.00	20,000.00	1,000.00
20,000.00	30,000.00	2,000.00
30,000.00	50,000.00	2,500.00
50,000.00	100,000.00	5,000.00
100,000.00	200,000.00	10,000.00
200,000.00	300,000.00	20,000.00
300,000.00	500,000.00	25,000.00
500,000.00	Infinite	50,000.00

LOT / Treasure, World Coin & Paper Money Auction 40 / Encrusted large silver bar 505, 53 lb 5.48 oz tr...

Encrusted large silver bar 505, 53 lb 5.48 oz troy (20 kg), fineness unknown, no visible markings, e

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