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January 15-16, 2013 - New York, NY
Ex-Clive of India Treasure Peca
In 1997, various South African bodies and authorities
laid claim to the treasure based on their belief that it
is Clive’s gold, culminating in a settlement by consent
of the parties and order of the court. The coin above
was one of a little over 800 gold coins - the only coins
available for sale from the collection originally presented
to Spink, sold in the Clive of India Treasure
Sale.
Ex Clive of India Treasure Sale, Spink, London, 28
September 2000, lot 251. (photo) Est. 800-1,000
939
939 Brazil, Jose I (1750-1777), 6,400 Reis (Peça), 1752,
Rio de Janeiro, laureate and draped peruked bust
right, broken “1” and double-struck “7” in date, period
after mint letter, date and REX, rev. crowned and
framed Arms (cf. Gomez 43.02a - variety not listed; Fr
65, KM 172.2), accompanied by Certificate, and original
lot card, gently salved, extremely fine.
In April, 1755 Robert Clive was preparing for his voyage
back to India. Beginning his career as a lowly clerk
in the British East India Company, Clive had returned
to England two years earlier as a rich and successful
military hero, briefly pursuing a flirtation with politics.
Now returning to the battlefields of India, he
packed his belongings and nearly £3,000 of gold coins
(England then abounded with Brazilian gold coin)
and left with his wife aboard the Stretham, which
sailed for India with several other ships on April 22.
His gold, though, had been consigned to another
ship, the Dodington.
Beset in stormy weather off Chaos Island in Algoa
Bay, near present day Port Elizabeth in South Africa,
the Dodington hit a reef and smashed into pieces. Only
23 of the 270 aboard survived, living for seven
months on Chaos Island, now known as Bird island
(so named for the legions of birds whose guano contributions
over the years has made the island a valued
natural resource). They recovered portions of the
wreckage - tools, provisions and one “Chest of Treasure”
and one of “Wrought Plate.” The treasure was
disputed, the officers wanted to save it for their consignors
and the other survivors wanted to divide it
among themselves. One chest was opened surreptitiously
and more than half the contents stolen and
hidden. The survivors sailed to Mozambique aboard
an escape vessel they had built, then on to India,
where Clive soon learned of his loss.
Over the years, some in the Cape Colony believed that
more than two treasure chests came ashore on Bird
Island and that the additional chests were buried by
the officers to avoid conflict and mutiny. In England,
meanwhile, the story of the wreck of the Dodington
captured the public imagination and stirred the interest
of salvagers and would-be treasure hunters.
940
940 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 10 Cents, 1870,
wide date, fully lustrous with soft apricot patina, scarce
variety, uncirculated. (photo) Est. 150-250
941 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 10 Cents, 1888,
(KM 3), wispy gray toning with apparent luster, a
sharp choice about uncirculated. Est. 80-120
942 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 20 Cents, 1858,
(KM 4), well struck with no major marks, one year
type, extremely fine. details with dark tone that has
caused surface damage. Est. 80-120
943 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 25 Cents, 1871 (2),
(KM 5), spotted toning and the other with light hairlines,
both extremely fine. [2] Est. 150-250
944 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 25 Cents, 1872H
(2) and 1874H, (KM 5), nicely early examples, all
with soft coloration, all extremely fine. [3]
Est. 150-250
945 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 25 Cents, 1872H,
(KM 5), mostly untoned with blushes of color, light
friction account for the grade, about uncirculated.
Est. 100-150
946 Canada, Victoria (1837-1901), 25 Cents, 1875H
and 1889, (KM 5), both better dates in the series,
good. and very good. [2] Est. 200-400
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