The coin is in a very deteriorated state after spending hundreds of years exposed to the marine ecosystem.
Historic sea treasure discovery: an ancient Spanish coin minted in 1622 during the reign of Philip IV has been discovered
The management of the Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia announced last week the discovery of a maravedí – an old Spanish coin – on As Dornas beach, on the island of Isla de Ons. The coin was minted in 1622, during the reign of Felipe IV.
According to an official report, cited by Faro de Vigo, the coin is in a “very deteriorated condition, with heavy corrosion and a green patina associated with copper alloys exposed to marine environments for long periods.
“Despite its modest numismatic value, it constitutes valuable testimony to monetary circulation and historic maritime activity in the area,” the public body added.
The discovery was described by the same outlet as “accidental” and occurred in the intertidal zone. The maravedí may have reached As Dornas beach in several ways – carried in by the tide, uncovered by shifting sediments, or even lost by its original owner.
The coin also bears the mark “VIII,” corresponding to the countermarks applied between 1641 and 1642 to raise its value to eight maravedís “amid the 17th-century monetary crisis,” the report notes.
According to El Correo Gallego, the find underscores the intense maritime traffic that once connected Galician and Portuguese ports with Atlantic routes. Merchants, fishermen, sailors and island residents would have converged at these coastal enclaves, part of a bustling seafaring network that shaped the region’s economy.
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