Spanish Silver Cob 2 Reales Doddington Shipwreck

Spanish Silver Cob Doddington Shipwreck 2 Reales Coin Pendant Circa 1700-1746, Philip V, Potosi, Peru Mint. Obverse: Pillars and waves design within which are date “741”, mint, denomination, assayer and PLV SVL TRA (stands for plus ultra or “more beyond”). Reverse: Cross of Jerusalem or “Potent Cross” with rampant lions and castles in quadrants, within a tressure or ornate border, surrounded by legend.

The Doddington, a British East Indiaman, left London in 1755 with a large cargo of soldiers and Spanish gold and silver. Within sight of Port Elizabeth, the Doddington struck a barren, uninhabited rocky island in the open sea of the Indian Ocean on the night of July 17, 1755. Out of a crew of 270 men, only 23 succeeded in surviving. One surviving soldier, who was also a carpenter, was elected to build a strong sloop. Some timber, plank, cordage, canvas, and a hamper containing files, sail needles, a carpenter’s adze, a chisel, three sword blades and a quadrant were salvaged and the carpenter commenced boat building. Seven months passed and a new vessel was launched on February 18, 1756, the Happy Deliverance. Upon shoving off, the crew named the rocky island, Bird Island. After encountering dwindling provisions, violent squalls and unfavorable winds, they reached Delagoa Bay, where they found an English vessel, the Rose, which had arrived from Bombay to trade for ivory. A few weeks later, the diminutive Happy Deliverance sailed in a convoy with the Rose to Madagascar, from whence the men bummed a lift to Madagascar, where they arrived eleven months from after the misfortunate wreck of the Doddington. Certificate of Authenticity

Dimensions; 1" wide, 1-3/8" total drop.