1708 LIMA PERU 2 ESCUDOS 1715 FLEET – DOUGLAS BEACH FIND NGC – 1715 FLEET MS62

Lima Peru 2 Escudos – 1715 Fleet Shipwreck Treasure

Gold coins recovered from the legendary 1715 Treasure Fleet represent some of the most desirable shipwreck treasures ever offered to collectors. Among the rarest of these historic pieces are gold 2 escudos struck at the famed Lima Mint in colonial Peru. Coins from this mint are encountered far less frequently than those from Mexico, making surviving examples from the fleet especially coveted.

The 1715 Fleet consisted of eleven Spanish ships sailing from Havana to Spain, carrying vast wealth from the New World. When a powerful hurricane struck Florida’s east coast in July 1715, the fleet was destroyed and its treasure scattered along what is now known as Florida’s Treasure Coast. For centuries, salvors and explorers have searched these waters, recovering gold coins, silver cobs, and other priceless artifacts from one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.

Lima-minted gold from the fleet is particularly scarce. Many of the coins struck in Peru circulated heavily before shipment, and relatively few survived the centuries beneath the sea. As a result, high-grade examples with clear detail and attractive surfaces are exceptionally rare. These coins represent a remarkable combination of rarity, beauty, and historical importance.

The pieces offered here come from a small group recovered during the 300th anniversary exploration of the 1715 Fleet shipwreck sites in 2015. After an unusual chain of events involving coins stolen by a rogue diver and later recovered by federal authorities, this limited cache eventually returned to the market—creating a rare opportunity for collectors to obtain genuine shipwreck gold with documented provenance.

Today, authenticated 1715 Fleet gold escudos from Lima rarely appear in quantity—especially in high grade. The small group acquired by Finest Known LLC is already selling quickly.

Opportunities like this are fleeting—secure one of these historic treasures while they are still available.