1554–56 Mexico 1 Real – NGC Extremely Fine – Shipwreck “Golden Fleece” Coin – Rare Discovery by John Mattera

Offered here is an extraordinary 1554–56 Mexico Real silver coin, certified Extremely Fine (XF) by NGC. Struck during the Spanish Colonial era, this coin represents one of the earliest examples of New World silver currency — a tangible artifact of the age of exploration and transatlantic trade.

This particular piece was recovered from a shipwreck associated with famed explorer John Joseph Mattera, a renowned American diver and treasure hunter born in 1962. Mattera, along with John Chatterton, became world-famous for discovering the long-lost pirate ship “Golden Fleece” — the vessel of pirate Captain Joseph Bannister — in 2008 off the coast of the Dominican Republic, as chronicled in Robert Kurson’s bestselling book Pirate Hunters.

Coins like this 1554–56 Real were struck in Colonial Mexico from high-purity silver mined in the Americas and shipped across perilous seas to Spain. The Golden Fleece connection, combined with its NGC certification and exceptional preservation, makes this a truly remarkable and historically rich collectible.

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This is a rare opportunity to own a genuine Colonial-era shipwreck treasure tied to one of the most thrilling modern discoveries in maritime history. A striking combination of rarity, beauty, and legend — perfect for any serious numismatist or shipwreck collector.