Almost Mint 1742 8 Reales HOLLANDIA shipwreck 1743 Start Price GBP 1.00 Current Price GBP 210.01 Time Left - Bid Count 11 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, September 03, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Location isles of scilly, Cornwall See more about 'Almost Mint 1742 8 Reales HOLLANDIA shipwreck 1743' Description This is a beautiful , almost mint coin recovered from the Dutch East India Company VOC ship Hollandia which sunk on her maiden voyage in 1743 .It is a large silver coin 39mm diameter minted at the renowned Mexico City mint. Coins in this condition were very rare in this condition !! It comes complete with a certificate of authenticity personally signed by the salvor On July 3, 1743, the Hollandia set sail on her maiden voyage from Texel in the Netherlands towards Batavia (Present day Indonesia). On board were 276 sailors and soldiers as well as a number of distinguished passengers. Under the command of Captain Ian Kelder, the ship toted 129,000 guilders in silver in the form of "pillar" dollars and ducatons. The Hollandia had begun her trip by heading westward through the English Channel but through a disastrous navigational error headed west-northwest; dangerously close to the rocks of the Scilly Isles. Efforts to correct the mistake failed; the Hollandia struck Gunner rock on the night of July 13th. Badly damaged but still afloat, the captain ordered one or more of the Hollandia's cannon guns be fired as a distress signal but the terrified islanders were unable to assist in the dark night and the periously rough sea conditions. By morning nothing remained of the ship but floating debris; all 276 members aboard perished and the ship's precious cargo was lost. In 1972 the treasure hunter, Rex Cowan, with the assistance of a professional team of divers and technicians located the Hollandia's remains which were scattered over a wide area of the sea-bed; a liminted number of coins were recovered from the wreck one of which is presented herein. ( Place a Bid!