The meaning of the over-stamps.

(This post is being prepared by Matthew de Felice, , County Archaeologist, Broward County Historical Commission.)

Matthew has been very busy and hasn't been able to report his findings. In fact he has not finished his research on these counter stamped coins. Matt has provided me with a copy of his correspondence with Rafael Valentine, a numismatist with some knowledge about the counter stamped Spanish coins found at the Sunrise wreck cultural deposit in 1956.

Rafael says that the counter stamps were made for the island of Cuba. On May 22, 1841 the Cuban authorities recalled the 2 and 4 silver reales minted at Madrid, Seville, Catalonia, Cadiz, and Valencia mints in peninsular Spain. These coins were then struck with the counter stamp and released at a devalued rate.

If this information is correct, then Sunrise wreck could not have wrecked before May 22, 1841, and probably somewhat later to allow for the counter stamping process to be completed. (j.c.n. 11/28/2008).