Description

Philip III, son of Philip II and Anna of Austria, lacked his father’s dedication to ruling and left governance to others while indulging in lavish court life. He ruled from Valladolid early on, later settling in Madrid, where he died in 1621.

In March 1622, under Philip III’s reign, the Spanish ship Sao Jose prepared to sail to Goa, India, carrying nine chests of silver Reales. During a battle between the British and Dutch, Sao Jose struck a shoal, lost her rudder, and sank. While 66,000 coins were recovered shortly after, most of the treasure—and the ship—remained lost for nearly 400 years until a Portuguese team rediscovered it off the East African coast in 2005, recovering over 24,000 silver coins linked to the historic Spice Trade. This coin was handset in a 14KT Gold pendant.