Mike S. writes: Â I have a rock with at least six coins inbedded in it, the coins are reales dated 1806 of different sizes. In the middle of the rock there is half of a cannon ball, and the materal the rock is made of and the coins appear to have been burned. Would you have any idea of it’s value?
During the period between the 16th and 19th century, many Spanish ships didn’t survive the transit of the ocean from Spanish America back to Spain. These ships often carried large shipments of silver and gold coins as well as bullion bars. It is not unusual to find common shipboard items fused by coral to coins. Some of these artifacts are collected as is and are interesting because of their historical reference.
The value of such items depends on what coins are embedded, type, metal, mint mark and how they are arranged in the artifact. Values can range widely, depending on the coins and most important, the notoriety of the shipwreck.
