ANCIENT GAUL, Redones, BI stater, 100-50 BC, NGC Choice XF / strike 3/5, surface 3/5, ex-Tresor du Piolaine. D&T 2315; L&T 6792. Celticized head of Apollo right / figure driving biga with androcephalic horse right with wheel below. A Gallic hoard coin, struck slightly off-center on obverse, with grayish low-contrast toning. From the "Tresor du Piolaine" hoard found in 2012 near Rennes, France. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GAUL, Aulerci Eburovices, EL hemistater, 2nd-1st centuries BC, NGC Ch VF / strike 5/5, surface 4/5. D&T 2401. Celticized male head left, wearing diadem; inverted boar below / Celticized biga galloping right; pellet in annulet right; below, boar standing right. Well centered with attractive toning, faint gold color and rather fanciful motifs. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GREEK, Calabria, Taras, AR didrachm, 380-340 BC, "boy on dolphin", NGC XF. Vlasto 673; HN Italy 960; SNG ANS 1051-1054. Naked horseman crowning horse right / Taras, holding grapes in right hand, on dolphin, left. Beautifully centered and medal-aligned, sharply struck. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GREEK, Calabria, Taras, AR didrachm, 380-340 BC, "boy on dolphin", NGC XF. Vlasto 707; HN Italy 970. Nude warrior on horse walking left, holding shield / Taras astride dolphin left, holding distaff and grapes; cock in right field. Sharply struck and well centered, a bit of corrosion on one side. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GREEK, Calabria, Taras, AR didrachm, 380-340 BC, "boy on dolphin", NGC XF. Vlasto 666; HN Italy 957. Nude warrior on horse walking right, crowning horse with wreath / Taras astride dolphin left, holding tripod in right hand. Well struck and well centered with medallic alignment, lightly toned. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GREEK, Calabria, Taras, AR didrachm, 380-340 BC, "boy on dolphin", NGC Choice VF. Vlasto 516-18; HN Italy 889. Nude, helmeted warrior standing behind bridled horse right, holding spear and shield with left hand and resting right on horse's back / Taras astride dolphin left, holding trident in right hand and shield in left; waves below. Boldly struck and well centered, particularly on reverse, pleasing toning. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GREEK, Calabria, Taras, AR didrachm, 380-340 BC, "boy on dolphin", NGC Choice VF. Vlasto 442; HN Italy 870. Nude youth preparing to dismount from galloping horse left, holding shield / Taras astride dolphin left, holding trident in right hand; waves below. Well struck with clear details, nicely centered reverse, light toning. Please use this link to verify the certification number

ANCIENT GREEK, Calabria, Taras, AR didrachm, 380-340 BC, "boy on dolphin", NGC Choice VF. Vlasto 448; HN Italy 890. Helmeted, nude warrior on prancing horse right, holding shield and spear / Taras astride dolphin left, holding jug in extended right hand, waves below. Nicely centered and lightly toned. Please use this link to verify the certification number

SPAIN, Seville, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer * to left, mintmark S to right, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 7.00 grams total. Rich golden-toned XF coin with nice full cross and shield, nearly complete legends with only a bit of flatness from strike weakness in the way, mounted in a simple gold pendant setting.

SPAIN, Seville, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer * to right, mintmark S to left, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 6.67 grams total. XF with full cross and shield, nicely mounted in a pendant modified to the shape of the coin.

SPAIN, Seville, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer Gothic D to left, mintmark S to right, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 6.89 grams total. Nicely mounted piece with sharply detailed cross facing out, AU coin details overall with full shield and cross plus much of the legend showing, rather lustrous.

SPAIN, Seville, gold 1 escudo, Charles-Joanna, assayer Gothic D to left, mintmark S to right, mounted cross-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail bearing three diamonds. 8.38 grams total. Finely detailed, Mint State coin with nice, complete cross and full shield with a fair amount of legend text also showing, nice and even golden luster throughout, mounted in this secure and attractive gold and diamond setting.

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip II, assayer Gothic D below mintmark S to left, mounted cross-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail. 11.57 grams total. Broad, XF piece with full cross and shield plus clear assayer, rather bright surfaces from light cleaning, nicely mounted.

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III, assayer B, OMNIVM in legend, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 12.09 grams total. Nice, broad piece with plenty of luster among its rich golden surfaces, boldly struck and full cross, nearly complete and detailed shield, clear assayer.

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip III or IV, assayer not visible, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 10.07 grams total. Full cross with two pockmarks nearby, partial shield with some well-struck detail, mounted in simple gold pendant.

SPAIN, Seville, gold cob 4 escudos, Philip IV, assayer not visible, style of assayer R (1640s), mounted cross-side out in 18K gold bezel with shackle bail. 21.57 grams total. Well-detailed, higher XF piece with a choice, bold cross and a nearly complete, sharply struck shield, full denomination IIII to right, mounted in a custom pendant setting by Cardow.

MEXICO, Mexico City, gold cob 8 escudos, 1715 J, ex-1715 Fleet, mounted shield-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 35.13 grams total. Popular date, with the bottom half of the digits visible (final digit covered by prong but certain), full shield with weak assayer to left, nice complete cross, slight scuff on the back but otherwise XF, securely mounted in a gold pendant setting, ready to wear, impressive as the largest Spanish colonial gold coin. From the 1715 Fleet. (Note: The printed catalog calls this non-wreck in error.)

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1735 N, mounted pillars-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail. 38.47 grams total. VF with bold full cross and pillars, desirable as the highest denomination struck in the Spanish colonies, nicely mounted in this thick pendant setting.

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1741 V, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 34.94 grams total. Desirable piece as the highest denomination struck in the Spanish New World colonies. VF coin with full and slightly doubled pillars and cross, quite lustrous, well mounted in a simple gold bezel.

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip IV, assayer R to right, ex-Maravillas (1656), mounted cross-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail. 10.95 grams total. Choice AU+ with a bold and complete cross, well-detailed full shield with denomination and assayer to right along with most of king's name, quite lustrous with some red tones about the fields, an excellent and eye-appealing coin to wear on a necklace.

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Philip IV, assayer not visible (R to right), mintmark NR to left, ex-Maravillas (1656), mounted cross-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail. 11.23 grams total. Around AU piece with full and centered cross, partially dated 16__, bold shield with clear mintmark and denomination though assayer not struck up, king's ordinal IIII visible, nice example of a gold coin from this wreck ready for wearing.

COLOMBIA, Bogotá, gold cob 2 escudos, Ferdinand VI, assayer not visible (S to left), mintmark F•S to right, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with shackle bail. 9.62 grams total. Choice full and bold cross, well-detailed upper half of shield plus clear mintmark visible, XF overall with scratch on shield, mounted in a simple gold bezel.

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 8 reales, Philip III, assayer D, Grade 1, ex-Atocha (1622), mounted in 14K bezel with shackle bail. 36.58 grams total. Bold, choice coin with full shield, mintmark, and assayer plus partial date 16__ on the obverse, full cross on the reverse, mottled gray surfaces with strong amber hues, securely mounted in a simple pendant setting. With original Fisher photo-certificate 86A-137947 (tag missing).

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 8 reales, Philip III, assayer T, quadrants of cross transposed, Grade 2, ex-Atocha (1622), mounted in 14K gold bezel with toothpick and starfish embellishments and swivel bail. 36.05 grams total. Solid, lightly corroded piece with nice full cross and shield (the latter being especially bold), clear P+T with some doubling, mounted with a decorative gold toothpick and starfish on the bezel. With original Fisher certificate 85A-153481 (tag missing).

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 2 reales, Philip III, assayer Q, Grade 1, ex-Atocha (1622), mounted cross-side out in custom 14K bezel with divers on sides and cage at top for bail. 17.27 grams total. Nice, circular piece with choice full cross if a little doubled, detailed and nearly complete shield, light surface corrosion, mounted in a decorative scuba diver-themed pendant. With original Fisher tag and photo-certificate 86A-131917.

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 2 reales, Philip III, assayer T, Grade 1, ex-Atocha (1622), mounted cross-side out in 14K bezel with shackle bail. 10.96 grams total. Choice piece with bold and complete shield and cross (the latter somewhat doubled), clear assayer and denomination, bright surfaces from some cleaning, mounted in a secure gold pendant setting. With original Fisher photo-certificate 85A-143147 (tag missing).

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 8 reales, Philip IV, assayer P, ex-Concepción (1641), mounted in 14K gold bezel with shackle bail. 31.44 grams total. Solid piece with silvery, somewhat corroded surfaces though still possessing a bold mintmark, assayer, and some shield and cross detail, securely mounted in a simple gold pendant setting. With original certificate from Captain Tracy Bowden through his Concepción contract with the Dominican Republic.

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 4 reales, Philip IV, assayer D, ex-Concepción (1641), mounted in 14K gold wire bezel. 14.47 grams total. Dark gray toned piece with very minor surface corrosion and nice partial shield and cross detail, clear denomination 4, interesting gold wire-wrapped pendant setting. With original certificate from Captain Tracy Bowden through his Concepción contract with the Dominican Republic.

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 8 reales, 1656 P, ex-"Jupiter Wreck" (1656), mounted in 14K gold wire bezel. 13.69 grams total. Corroded thin but with a full and clear date (rare thus), also formed into a nice heart shape by the saltwater corrosion, partial shield detail and faint yet full cross.

NO LOT

NETHERLANDS (United), Holland, 2 stuivers, 1724, ex-Akerendam (1725), mounted in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 2.74 grams total. Mint State with lightly corroded and richly toned surfaces, scratch on reverse.

MEXICO, Mexico City, 1 real, Charles-Joanna, "Late Series" assayer O to right, mintmark oM to left (oM-O), mounted pillars-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 6.51 grams total. Popular early Spanish colonial type coin mounted in pendant setting, the coin grading in the upper range of VF with full pillars and shield plus most of the legends showing, richly toned all over.

MEXICO, Mexico City, cob 1 real, Philip II, assayer O to left, mintmark oM to right, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with shackle bail. 7.68 grams total. VF nice full cross and shield, partial legend detail, clear assayer, holed on edge though covered by prong.

PERU, Lima, cob 2 reales, 1741 V, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 9.08 grams total. XF piece struck on a broad planchet with full and bold cross plus a fair amount of pillars-side detail, some surface corrosion from probable salvage.

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 2 reales, Philip II, assayer not visible (style of 5th-period B), mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with five diamonds in fixed bail. 14.56 grams total. Nicely detailed, nearly complete shield and cross on this XF piece mounted in a stylish pendant setting, the coin itself once cleaned and now toning over with faint red hues.

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 4 reales, 1752 q, mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 19.87 grams total. Mint State piece with bold and full cross, pillars side a bit crude with natural divot near date, fairly lustrous.

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 1 real, 1693 VR, very odd shape (as made), mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 6.21 grams total. Nicely detailed VF piece in an unusual "drop" shape featuring full pillars, a nice (if a little off-center) cross, plus two clear dates, dark gray surfaces with light porosity, mounted in a customized pendant setting.

BOLIVIA, Potosí, cob 1 real, 1753 q, very odd shape (as made), mounted cross-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 6.48 grams total. Interesting XF cob with nearly complete and bold cross, some pillars detail, irregular and crude form mounted in a pendant setting modified to its unique shape.

SPAIN, Madrid, gold bust 2 escudos, Charles IV, 1794 MF, mounted bust-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail. KM-435. 10.86 grams total. Lustrous XF+ professionally mounted in a nice setting.

ANCIENT GREEK, Aegina, AR stater, 510-490 BC, mounted sea turtle-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 16.48 grams total. Sea turtle / Incuse square with mill-sail pattern. Well centered VF turtle with bankers' marks on shell, popular motif, mounted in a sturdy, flat-sided custom bezel.

ANCIENT GREEK, Athens, Attica, AR tetradrachm, 449-413 BC, mounted owl-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 25.17 grams total. Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent in left field; all within incuse square. Well-centered, frosty and shiny AU coin mounted in heavy flat-sided custom bezel.

ANCIENT GREEK, Illyria, Dyrrhachion, AR stater, 370-350 BC, mounted pegasus-side out in 14K gold bezel with fixed bail. 11.89 grams total. Pegasus flying right / Head of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helmet; above, dolphin swimming right; rod and A behind neck-guard. XF with slightly off-center obverse and tiny gouge behind pegasus on reverse, mounted in a custom sturdy, flat-sided bezel.

BYZANTINE EMPIRE, Constantinople mint, AV solidus, Maurice Tiberius, 582-602 AD, mounted ruler-side out in 18K gold bezel with fixed bail. 8.39 grams total. Helmeted, draped, and cuirassed bust facing, holding globus cruciger / Angel standing facing, holding staff surmounted by staurogram and globus cruciger. Lustrous and struck on a broad flan, small gouges in extra metal on each side, mounted in a high-karat, custom flat-sided bezel.

Lot of five pewter porringer bowls, ex-"Pewter Wreck" (mid-1500s). 1366 grams total. Each 8-12" x 5" x 1-7/8". Small oval-shaped bowls for soups or stews, in as-found condition with some minor loss of metal and sandy appearance, dull gray in color. From the "Pewter Wreck" (mid-1500s), with original photo-certificate and registration (zip drive) from the salvors, also pedigreed to the Wilkinson's (UK) auction of November 2013, lot 470.

Large silver candlestick base, ex-Atocha (1622). 665 grams total. 2-1/4" tall, 5-1/2" in diameter. As found, mostly intact, a hollow round base with a separate spherical part that also belonged to the candlestick, all covered in grayish sedimentation. From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher tag and photo-certificate 85A-A344.

Small silver breastplate with ornate design, ex-Atocha (1622). 16.25 grams. 2-1/4" diameter. Miniature, round, concave breastplate, intact and well toned with ornate engraving including an unidentified coat-of-arms (shield). From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher photo-certificate 85A-A170 and artistic rendering of design by official conservator.

Small silver finial or stopper, ex-Atocha (1622), with pre-Mother Lode certificate. 27 grams. 1" x 3/4". Pitted but intact and solid artifact with round, bulbous top ending in a square-ended bottom, used as either a finial or a stopper of some sort. From the Atocha (1622), with original Fisher certificate 109-A-82.

Center portion of a silver plate, ex-Concepción (1641). 178 grams. 8" x 6-1/2". Despite most of its rim being corroded away, this is a surprisingly solid plate with bright silvery toning, pinpoint in center (purpose unknown), extremely rare as a certified artifact from this wreck as most were retained by the government of the Dominican Republic. From the Concepción (1641), with original certificate from Captain Tracy Bowden through his Concepción contract with the Dominican Republic, and accompanied by the July 1996 issue of National Geographic signed by Captain Tracy Bowden on his article "Gleaning Treasure from the Silver Bank."

Most of a Chinese blue-on-white porcelain cup, Ming Dynasty, with reign marks on bottom, ex-Concepción (1641). 55 grams. 2-1/2" tall, 2-3/4" in diameter. Bottom half of a tall porcelain cup with images painted in blue of two human figures on sides, one blowing a horn, another herding or walking an animal, very little crazing despite its age, extremely rare as a certified artifact from this wreck as most were retained by the government of the Dominican Republic. From the Concepción (1641), with original certificate from Captain Tracy Bowden through his Concepción contract with the Dominican Republic, and with copy of the booklet Quest for Adventure with Tracy Bowden (2004) showing similar pieces from this wreck, also accompanied by the July 1996 issue of National Geographic signed by Captain Tracy Bowden on his article "Gleaning Treasure from the Silver Bank."

Small pewter candlestick holder, ex-Concepción (1641). 34 grams. 2" x 1". Upper portion of a small candlestick holder with intact screw base, crushed upper end but otherwise solid, extremely rare as a certified artifact from this wreck as most were retained by the government of the Dominican Republic. From the Concepción (1641), with original certificate from Captain Tracy Bowden through his Concepción contract with the Dominican Republic and accompanied by the July 1996 issue of National Geographic signed by Captain Tracy Bowden on his article "Gleaning Treasure from the Silver Bank."

Small, intact, Chinese blue-on-white porcelain vase, ex-Chinese junk wreck (ca. 1645), ex-Hatcher. 80 grams. 5" tall, 1-3/4" in diameter at its widest. Attractive and virtually intact except for tiny chip in base, long-necked slim vase with a floral motif covering the body, almost no wear despite its age and travels. From an unidentified ca.-1645 Chinese junk wreck, pedigreed to the Michael Hatcher Collection and Christie's (Amsterdam) auction of June 1984, with original Michael Hatcher Collection sticker.

Gold chain, 30 grams, 30-1/2 inches, ex-1715 Fleet. A very tight braid in bent-wire links of high-grade gold (XRF tested at 21-1/2K), great length for a necklace but with ends unfinished as used for a "money chain" to avoid high taxes in its time, fully intact with just a few kinks, highly desirable as an original and officially certified gold object from the 1715 Fleet. From the Douglass Beach site of the 1715 Fleet, with Queens Jewels photo-certificate 75906.

Small gold decorative piece, ex-1715 Fleet. 0.63 gram. approx. 1/2" long. Nearly semicircular in shape but rather small and somewhat wreath-like in design, its function unknown but probably part of a chain or jewelry setting. From the 1715 Fleet, with original Cobb Coin Co. (Fisher) photo-certificate CC86-024B.

Bronze breech block marked III, ex-1733 Fleet, ex-Meylach. 29 lb. 8-1/2" x 5". With handle in side and semicircular protrusion in bottom, this was basically a "rapid fire cartridge" that could be packed ahead of time and simply set into a breech-loading cannon and fired, with small touch-hole below numeral III in side, coppery-bronze in color with sea-foam green highlights. From the 1733 Fleet, pedigreed to the Marty Meylach collection (Sedwick Auction 10, with original lot-tag 1306), with copy of a letter from Mendel Peterson of the Smithsonian Institution describing the piece and its purpose.

Long gold chain, 54.2 grams, 59-1/2" long - thickness about 4mm, ex-Leocadia (1800), ex-Fismer, Treasure magazine cover (1992), Sedwick Auction cover (2007). A rather long chain in a closed loop that feels light due to the fact that the multitudinous spherical links are hollow cages, a bit aged in color (XRF tested 18-1/4K) but fully intact and clean, reportedly found by U.S. servicemen stationed in Punta Santa Elena during World War II and later marketed by famous salvor Captain Carl Fismer. From the Leocadia (1800), pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 2 (lot 469, pictured on the back cover of the catalog), found by Carl Fismer and accompanied by his photo-certificate and a signed cover of the August 1992 issue of Treasure magazine featuring him diving underwater while holding the chain.

Brass shako plate, British, universal pattern, ex-Lady Burgess (1806), ex-Sotheby's, ex-Cowan. 35 grams. 6" x 4-1/8". British Napoleonic War general service pattern "stovepipe" hat shako plate in brass, with numerous repairs on the underside, still retaining attractive motifs and coloring, with Latin phrase in center meaning "shame on him who thinks evil of it.". From the Lady Burgess (1806), pedigreed to the Rex Cowan Collection and the Sotheby's auction of December 19, 2000 (lot 461b), with copy of invoice.

Glass preserves bottle, A. Kemp, ex-SS Republic (1865). 642 grams. 9-1/4" tall, 3-3/4" in diameter. Large and impressive light-green bottle with 3/4" lip for storing and transporting preserves, the maker's name "A. Kemp" and "New York" on the side, intact and ready for display. The bottle's cork is still present at the bottom of the bottle, having been pushed inwards by the water pressure at that depth. From the SS Republic (1865), with original salvor's certificate.

Glass medicine bottle, J.R. Stafford's Olive Tar, ex-SS Republic (1865). 156 grams. 6-1/4" tall. Intact, light green, rectangularly shaped bottle with OLIVE TAR on one shoulder and J.R. STAFFORD'S on the other, bits of sedimentation and stopper in bottom. Olive tar was used to treat lung issues, colds, and sore throats. From the SS Republic (1865), with original salvor's certificate R-04-00055-BR.

Glass snuff bottle, ex-SS Republic (1865). 184 grams. 4-1/4" tall, 2-1/2" x 1-3/4". Very attractive, deep-green, stout, eight-sided bottle with rounded shoulders and shallow pontil as from blown glass, bits of sedimentation here and there. From the SS Republic (1865), with original salvor's certificate R-03-00093-BE.

Glazed porcelain pot, ex-SS Republic (1865). 487 grams. 4-1/4" tall, 3-1/2" in diameter. Intact, high-glaze, light-colored pot (missing lid) with brown crazing all over, very attractive for display or use. From the SS Republic (1865), with original salvor's certificate R-04-03557-CR-003.

Glazed porcelain pot, Holloway's Ointment, ex-SS Republic (1865). 41 grams. 1-1/2" tall, 1-1/2" in diameter. Petite white pot with name and usage glazed in black lettering on the side, some cracks running down the side but very stable and cute. From the SS Republic (1865), with original salvor's certificate R-04-00139-CR.

Baltic amber with preserved hairy spider, approx. 44 million years old, from Kaliningrad, Russia. 4.3 grams. 1" x 1-1/4" x 1-1/4". Triangular piece of amber with smooth, transparent surfaces throughout, light-colored spider visible close to the surface on one side.

Baltic amber with preserved ant, approx. 44 million years old, from Kaliningrad, Russia. 0.44 gram. 3/4" x 1/2". Small teardrop of transparent amber with black ant visible in one corner.

Large bronze signal cannon (mortar), Spanish colonial (1500s-1600s). 3985 grams. 4" tall, 3-1/2" in diameter. Short, crude, flat-bottomed cannons like this one were apparently in widespread use throughout the colonies but particularly in Peru, where they were fired either to send up signals or test powder, the surfaces on this one dark and dusty, with touch-hole near bottom, scarce as larger than most.

Medium-sized bronze signal cannon (mortar) with lion's head ornament, Spanish colonial (1500s-1600s). 1750 grams. 3-1/2" tall, 2-3/4" in diameter. Interesting lion's head embellishment near square touch-hole at bottom, typical turned-ring design and crude manufacture, dark brown patina.

Small flintlock waistcoat pistol, British, ca. 1740s, marked with makers FARMER and GALTON and crowned-P and crowned-V touchmarks. 346 grams. 7-1/4" long, 4-1/4' barrel. This small pistol by Farmer and Galton of Birmingham, England, features an ornate inlaid wooden grip ending in a steel butt-cap with lifelike image of a bearded man, crowned P and V touch-marks on the lightly engraved steel barrel, Galton on one side, Farmer on the other, small nick in wooden grip, good working order.

Small flintlock overcoat pistol, European, ca. 1780. 297 grams. 7" long, 2-3/4" barrel. Petite gun with deeply lacquered, dark wooden handle, simple steel butt-cap, unadorned steel furniture, all in good condition, missing ramrod.

Ebony octant, probably English, early to mid-1700s. 1203 grams. Roughly 15" x 13" x 3". This navigational device was used to measure astronomical angles and therefore was most useful to sailors who needed to know latitudes. After the astrolabe came the quadrant, which by definition measured a quarter circle, but that device was cumbersome and came to be replaced with the octant (or reflecting quadrant) like this one, which utilized mirrors to get quarter-circle measurement from a device that was, in effect, only one-eighth of a circle. Technical specifications aside, this piece consists of an ebony frame with ivory inlay for gradations (lacking numbers or any printing) and with brass index arm and pinhole sight and mounts for the three mirrors (one of which is missing, as is also the sighting telescope that was used in conjunction with the octant but was typically a separate item). On the backside are three legs for laying the instrument carefully on a horizontal surface when not in use. Everything seems to be in working order and intact except for some empty holes for bolts that may have been stabilizers, but interesting as an historically important navigational antique. Pedigreed to Sedwick Auction 3 (lot 1113), with photo-certificate.

Silver serving fork, Spanish colonial (1500s-1600s), perfectly intact. 25.58 grams. 5-3/4" long. Unusually shaped two-tined fork, curved downward as made, of simple manufacture but impressively intact and solid.