|
Treasure lost -- and Secret Treasure found…Secret treasure was not the concern of the Master of the tVliegent Hart, a trading vessel of the Dutch East India Company, sailing from the province of Zeeland on the afternoon of February 3, 1735.She and a somewhat smaller ship, the Anna Catharina, were bound for the Far East. These were trading vessels, not pirate ships. Although a strong northeast gale was building offshore, and dangerous sandbars crowded their course to the open sea, the two ships pressed on. The TradingTrade between Holland and her Dutch East Indies possessions was a matter of high risk, and often, higher profit. The trading model was fairly straightforward: Dutch merchant ships sailed from Holland to the Far East with money, based on the “Demand of India”, a summary of needed funds assembled by the Governor-General in the Dutch East Indies trading port of Batavia. Upon arrival, the money was exchanged for goods to meet European demand.The MoneyThe money carried by ships such as tVliegent Hart was trade coinage – silver eight reale pieces originally coined in Mexico, and gold trade ducats struck in Holland. These were carefully packed into chests wrapped in canvas and bound with iron straps. Traditionally these chests were stored in the Master’s cabin at the stern of the ship.And the secret treasure? Keep reading… The LossThe captain and crew of tVliegent Hart were no doubt anxious to proceed with their venture. Sadly, both ships grounded on the sand bars on the evening of their departure -- and beaten to pieces by the rising seas. Witnesses on the pilot boat Mercurius later recalled tVliegent Hart firing her cannon in distress before breaking up. She sunk with all hands.The SalvageSalvage attempts commenced soon after the sinking, and throughout 1735 and 1736. Contemporary salvage technology varied in sophistication, but after two years only a few scattered coins were found.Fast forward to 1979, when late 20th century science was applied to the tVliegent Hart wreck… Supported by advanced technology, including proton magnetrometry and side-scan sonar, Rex Cowan (who also salvaged the Hollandia) relocated the wreck. Over a period of years much was recovered. In 1990 the large trade coinage chests were found, containing pieces of eight and gold ducats in excellent condition. And… The SurpriseThe more intriguing find was contained in smaller, odd shaped boxes, found in other parts of the ship. These boxes – likely the personal property of crew members – contained uncirculated silver ducatoons dated 1734.The ducatoon (also known as a “silver rider”, and pictured at the top of this page) displayed a mounted knight on a rampant horse upon its obverse side, with an elaborate coat-of-arms upon its reverse side. This was a coin legal in Holland only – not legal for shipment to the Far East, where a thriving black market in these coins existed. Worth 66 stuivers in Holland, these coins could be exchanged for up to 75 stuivers in Batavia. So... the secret treasure! The opportunity to make nearly 14% on funds thus invested was too good to pass up for many of the crew, officers, and reputedly, directors of the Dutch East India Company. While this illicit trade was long suspected, the salvage of this secret treasure of silver rider coins confirmed the rumor as fact.
|
