Kings Fifth

Almost every piece of silver recovered from Playa Preciosa "Rawson's Wreck" no  matter how big or small had this mark stamped into the silver. The Padre Island shipwrecks of 1554 also carried these marks on the silver they recovered. Ines de Soto is an unidentified shipwreck discovered on Cuba's NW coast also had these marks. Ines de Soto was determined to have sunk in 1556.  Trying to name our shipwreck it would be helpful to understand at what time period were these "Kings Fifth" marks in use. Just from the two above mentioned shipwrecks we can say for sure the Padre Island ships would have had treasure on board from 1553 and Ines de Soto up till 1556. So there are at least three documented years Spain used this type of mark. 

A piece of silver recovered from "Rawsons Wreck" with the mark showing the Kings Fifth had been paid

               

This image was taken from a book about the Ines de Soto shipwreck

                             A page from Weddle's book of the  Padre Island shipwrecks

Of all the silver recovered from our wreck-site only one piece had the shell of saint James. No other marks were found. Does this indicate the shipment of silver was older than that of Padre Island? No mine marks or assayers marks or owner or purity marks. Just the Kings Fifth and one mark of the church.

Gudgeons and Pintles

                   

Spanish Treasure transport ship "Rawson's Wreck" Playa Preciosa

Pieces of the rudder of a 16th century shipwreck, with a possible direction of shipwreck wreckage.

16th Century Spanish Treasure Shipwreck

site theories for "Rawson's Wreck", Playa Preciosa, North Coast Dominican Republic

Aztec or European

Was just looking through these artifact pictures and came across the gold ring found on the Preciosa Site, Thinking all the other Jade items were most likely of aboriginal manufacture. What about the ring? Not sure if the Aztecs wore gold rings but it sure looks like a crude design.
Any info anybody might have about this would be much appreciated.

The naming of a shipwreck?

This is cool my own blog. Since the company shut down its website, the only way i posted my opinions was on IHUB. How cool to have a real uninterrupted discussions/debates w/out being deleted.
I am wanting to finish a more or less academic book regarding our 16th century shipwreck. Get all the information from any source. Siphon it all out  and print what is fact or at least as factual as what is currently available. Because we found an identical ship of what the San Miguel (c.1550) would have been, I want to try and prove or disprove it through original records. Or any information pertaining to this ship.
To me its just to coincidental that an exact same ship with kings treasure of that of the
San Miguel is found, same area, same era and nobody can say what ship it is, only saying what ship it isn't. So thats how i want to start of my new blog.