This historic artifact was recovered from the Spanish vessel El Cazador (Spanish for 'The Hunter'), in January, 1784. The ship was last with its crew and tons of Spanish silver during its journey from Vera Cruz to New Orleans.
Although unfortunate for the crew, and Spain, it was fortuitous for the United States. Had this vessel completed her journey, Spain would have retained her hold on a large part of the new world. The loss of El Cazador ultimately meant U.S. ownership of territories now known as "the Louisiana purchase". If the mission was successful, El Cazador's wealth would have altered the dimensions of the United States and changed their course of history.
For over two hundred years the ship's silver cache lay in a pile at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico before being discovered accidentally by fishermen. Initially thought to be rocks, clusters of coins spilled from the nets onto the decks of their boats. All of a sudden El Cazador's journey was alive again!
Described as "delicate and dangerous", the extraction of several tons of silver from the bottom of the sea was a difficult and carefully directed project. While there were caches of coins capable of crushing a human, their value as artifacts requires a gentle touch.
These coins were minted in Mexico City before 1784, and were part of El Cazador's cargo. Each coin's origin guarantees its part in history. Their value as artifacts may only increase with time.
