3849) Did You Know Series (102): Unearthing a 500-Year-Old Portuguese Shipwreck in Namibia: Lost at Sea, Found in the Sand:
A Portuguese vessel lost in 1533 resurfaced in Namibia’s desert, offering a treasure trove of coins, ingots, and a glimpse into global trade history.
In one of the most unlikely places on Earth to uncover a shipwreck—the blazing sands of the Namib Desert—miners unearthed a veritable time capsule from the Age of Discovery.
What they found buried beneath centuries of sand in 2008 was not just any old wreck.
It was the remains of the Bom Jesus ("The Good Jesus"), a Portuguese trading vessel lost at sea nearly 500 years ago. The final voyage had ended, but not in the waters off the coast of Africa. It had ended inland, where the desert meets the Atlantic coast.
The archaeologists called to the site uncovered a staggering hoard.
Approximately 2,000 gold coins were recovered from the site, predominantly Spanish excellentes featuring the likenesses of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.
Portuguese coinage was also present, including cruzados from the
reigns of Kings Manuel I and João III. Additionally, coins from Venice, France,
and various Muslim states were found, indicative of the extensive trade
connections of the period. The inscriptions and designs on these coins were
instrumental in dating the shipwreck to the early 1530s.
Another surprise came in bulk:
The find included 1,845 copper ingots, each stamped with a trident mark linked to the powerful Fugger banking family of Germany, which were found amidst the wreckage.
These ingots, weighing some 17 tons, had originally been shipped from Central Europe and were headed for India, where copper was a prized trade commodity.
The Fuggers’ mark turned the find into a historian’s dream, offering substantial proof of copper’s role in global commerce and the Fugger family’s significant role in supplying copper for trade during the Renaissance.
The preservation was extraordinary. Although only a
small part of the wreck’s original structure was
preserved, the ship’s contents were found in relatively
good condition. Namibia’s dry climate and heavy
copper cargo helped create a sealed environment,
protecting not just the metal but also elephant tusks,
navigational instruments, weapons (including a 500-
year-old musket and cannons), and personal effects—
all eerily well-preserved.
Dr. Dieter Noli, the lead archaeologist at the South African Institute for Maritime Archaeological Research, maintains that the copper ingots were responsible for the remarkable preservation of the ship’s cargo. “Marine organisms may like wood, book covers, peach pits, jute sacks, and leather shoes, but copper really repels them from their food – so a lot of things survived 500 years at the bottom of the sea that really shouldn’t have,” he said.
The find is the stuff of legend for treasure hunters and history buffs alike. For numismatists, it’s a windfall of study materials and historical significance.
Seventeen years after its discovery, the exact fate of the Bom Jesus and how it came to rest in Namibia is still uncertain. The prevailing theory is that a violent storm pushed the ship toward the coast, where it ran aground.
Though many items remain in conservation, plans are to exhibit the Bom Jesus artifacts to the public eventually.
In the meantime, the
find continues to offer new clues about a time when ships like the Bom Jesus
helped stitch together a truly global economy.
Links:
2) Currency & Coinage of Ghana: Cedis & Pesewas
6) Two new Cedi Banknotes of GH200 & GH100 and a GH2 Cedi Coin introduced in 11/2019
Links to other interesting posts on our Ghana visit in 2013:
1) Lake Bosumchwe or Bosumchwi, Ghana
2) El Mina Castle/Fort, Cape Coast, Ghana
3) History of Coinage and Banknotes of Ghana
6) Larabanga mosque and the Mystic Stone
7) Food, Culture and Music of Ghana
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the PLague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
For some other interesting posts on Currencies of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:
18) Sea Motifs, Bahamas: Gold Bullion Coins in the denominations of 100 Dollars (depicting a Blue Marlin) and 250 Dollars (depicting a Conch Shell): Coins issue date: 03.12.2019
19) A new Generation $100 Polymer Banknote, Trinidad and Tobago with enhanced security features to "raise the bar" for counterfeiters & unscrupulous elements: Banknote circulation date: 09.12.2019:
20) Festival di Tumba (Carnival of Curacao), Curacao: "50th Edition of the Curacao Carnival/Festival" held from 27-31.01.2020: A set of six Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by Cpost (Curacao Post) on 20.02.2020
21) New Polymer Banknotes, Trinidad and Tobago: The entire series will consist of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5 and $1 denominations: $100 has already been issued on 09.12.2019
23) "Caribbean Sea-Horse", Barbados: $10 (Ten Dollars) 1.0 Oz. Gold Bullion Coins & $1 (One Dollar) 1.0 Oz. Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Scottsdale Mint; Year of issue: 2020
24) Cayman Islands, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): A set of identically numbered Banknotes of the presently circulating Banknotes from the "D" Series of Banknotes
Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:
26) A new 100 Boliviano Banknote from Bolivia: issued by the "Banco Centrale de Bolivia" (Central Bank of Bolivia) on 15.01.2019 under its new 2018 Banknote Series
27) Central Bank of Uruguay ("Banco Centrale del Uruguay"): 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) - 1967-2017 - celebrated with the issue of a 50 Peso Commemorative Banknote on 14.09.2018
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
Interesting Posts from Algeria:
Interesting posts from Sierra Leone:
Links to posts on Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
2) Currency & Coinage of Ghana: Cedis & Pesewas
6) Two new Cedi Banknotes of GH200 & GH100 and a GH2 Cedi Coin introduced in 11/2019
Links to other interesting posts on our Ghana visit in 2013:
1) Lake Bosumchwe or Bosumchwi, Ghana
2) El Mina Castle/Fort, Cape Coast, Ghana
3) History of Coinage and Banknotes of Ghana
6) Larabanga mosque and the Mystic Stone
7) Food, Culture and Music of Ghana
9) Oware: The Ancient National Board Game of Ghana
Interesting posts from Sierra Leone:
Links to posts on Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
New Banknotes of Mozambique:
1) New Banknotes of Mozambique
ZiG: The new currency of Zimbabwe:
1) ZiG: The new Currency of Zimbabwe
Eswatini (Swaziland):
Interesting Posts from Algeria:
Interesting posts from Sierra Leone:
Links to posts on Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
Interesting posts from Sierra Leone:
Links to posts on Zaire/Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC):
Posts on Aruba on this blog:
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
8) New Caribbean Guilder Banknotes and Coin designs for the Centrale Bank of Curacao & Sint Maarten
Other posts on European Capitals of Culture Posts - 2024:
Posts on SEPAC issues on this blog:
Posts on Finland on this Blog:
Dutch Castles Coin Series:
For other interesting posts on issues from the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands and PostNL, please visit the following links:
10) First Atlases, Netherlands: Commemorating 450 Years of the first Atlas (1570-2020) & others: A Stamp Sheet of six stamps depicting the Atlases which were compiled in the Netherlands in the 16th & 17th Centuries AD: Stamp Set issued by POstNL: Date of Stamp Set issue: 23.03.2020
Intangible Cultural Heritage, Netherlands:
For interesting posts from the Caribbean Netherlands on "Experience Nature":
For interesting posts from the Caribbean Netherlands on this blog:
5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020
6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020
7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020
30) 100 Years of Surrealism in Belgium: Date of Stamp issue: 26.08.2024
Links:
Posts on Aruba on this blog:
Posts on Sweden:
Links:
The undernoted two links will take you to our blog "Footloose" for two interesting posts written by me on the Dutch presence in Sadras in the 17th Century AD:
5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020
6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020
7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020
16) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020
Posts on SEPAC issues on this blog:
Links to Posts on Turks and Caicos Islands:
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
For some other interesting posts on Currencies of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:
18) Sea Motifs, Bahamas: Gold Bullion Coins in the denominations of 100 Dollars (depicting a Blue Marlin) and 250 Dollars (depicting a Conch Shell): Coins issue date: 03.12.2019
19) A new Generation $100 Polymer Banknote, Trinidad and Tobago with enhanced security features to "raise the bar" for counterfeiters & unscrupulous elements: Banknote circulation date: 09.12.2019:
20) Festival di Tumba (Carnival of Curacao), Curacao: "50th Edition of the Curacao Carnival/Festival" held from 27-31.01.2020: A set of six Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by Cpost (Curacao Post) on 20.02.2020
21) New Polymer Banknotes, Trinidad and Tobago: The entire series will consist of $100, $50, $20, $10, $5 and $1 denominations: $100 has already been issued on 09.12.2019
23) "Caribbean Sea-Horse", Barbados: $10 (Ten Dollars) 1.0 Oz. Gold Bullion Coins & $1 (One Dollar) 1.0 Oz. Silver Bullion Coins minted by the Scottsdale Mint; Year of issue: 2020
24) Cayman Islands, A British Overseas Territory (BOT): A set of identically numbered Banknotes of the presently circulating Banknotes from the "D" Series of Banknotes
Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:
26) A new 100 Boliviano Banknote from Bolivia: issued by the "Banco Centrale de Bolivia" (Central Bank of Bolivia) on 15.01.2019 under its new 2018 Banknote Series
27) Central Bank of Uruguay ("Banco Centrale del Uruguay"): 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) - 1967-2017 - celebrated with the issue of a 50 Peso Commemorative Banknote on 14.09.2018
Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:
Legendary Warriors Coin Series:
Great Commanders Coin Series:
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