As I delve into this topic, I become more convinced that Parker used
many different coins to associate with the Spanish Treasure Fleet fountain
pens and ballpoint pens. As
I previously wrote, a replica coin can
be found to accompany the FP and BP. What
I have also found is that sometimes a real silver cob coin was given with
the Spanish Treasure Fleet writing instrument. In
such cases, each coin is unique.
This is pure speculation on my part. Perhaps
Parker first started to give
out real cob coins, but as the inventory was depleted, they resorted
to providing replicas. I
don't know for sure, but would love to hear from you if you have some
information on this subject. Please
send me email and
tell me your source of the information.
Obverse (front) or
Shield side
Reverse (back) or
Cross side
Replica
coin
Comparing this shield to other coins in my reference book, it would
appear this shield closely matches that for Philip III who reigned Spain
1598 - 1621.
The cross with arcs of this type indicate that the original coin from
which the die was made for this replica did not come from Mexico. We
know this because Mexican-minted silver cob coins made after 1572 always
had a fleur-de-lis design that developed into globes at the ends of the
cross.
This design is likely to be from 8 reales coin originating from Potosí,
Bolivia.
Real silver cob coin
Sample 1
The shield pattern indicates a coin minted during the reign of Philip
V, 1700 - 1715.
The globes at the ends of the cross indicate that this coin was really
minted in Mexico.
Real silver cob coin
Sample 2
Another example of a coin minted during the reign of Philip V, 1700-1715.
Again we see the globes at the ends of the cross so this is another
Mexican minted coin.
The above assessments for the coins were courtesy of cob coin expert
Daniel Sedwick. I
also drew some conclusions by using the reference
book he co-authored with his father Frank Sedwick called The Practical Book of Cobs.
If you want to have this definitive 130-page work, I have the third
edition from 1995 available for sale. At
$15 per copy, it is a worthwhile item for anyone numismatically interested
in the history of these coins.
Dec 31, 2002
COIN WAS NOT PART OF THE PACKAGE!
I now have seen proof that Parker never packaged the coin with pen itself.
What was
this proof?
1.
Original Parker press announcement
for this pen, dated Nov 5, 1965. This
announcement confirms the total number being made as 4,821 [fountain]
pens and the last two paragraphs describe the packaging as follows:
"The Spanish Treasure
pens, priced at $75.00 each, are being made as a limited edition fo the
current Parker 75 pen. Each
is packed in a hand-rubbed walnut box. Inset
on the lid is a reproduction of an old treasure map showing the route
of the Spanish fleet, and on the inside is a diagram of one of the galleons
showing where the precious cargo was stored.
The box contains a copy
of a notarized certificate signed by Mr. Wagner, certifying the origin
of the silver and an excerpt of an eyewitness account of the sinking by
a captain of one of the ships."
As you can see from this
description, there was no coin included as part of the packaging. Had
the coin been part of the package, then surely Parker would have included
it in the description of the package.
"Under separate
cover, we are sending you 50 simulated treasure coins which you can use
for display an/or give to your good customers.
Congratulations on your extraordinary sales record on the Treasure Fountain
Pen, and best wishes for success with the Treasure Ball Pen."
This letter is dated two years after the launch of this limited edition
pen! This
letter seems to lend credence to rumors I heard that this pen was a slow
seller, so that even two years later Parker still had many pens out of
the 4,821 produced.
What I also find interesting is that the second paragraph seems to imply
that the ball pen was launched at a later
time from the FP version. This
implication also seems consistent with the observation that the box for
the BP was just slightly smaller than the one supplied with the FP, a
fact that raises the possibility that these boxes were produced in different
batches.
3.
Letter to dealers about the Spanish
Treasure Fleet BP display dated Nov 19, 1969. Once
again the offer was made for replica cob coins which were available for
ordering:
"As a bonus we can supply you with a
sterling cob replica (show
above) with each ball pen."
Note how there is no mention of this coin
being part of the normal STF BP package, rather it is a bonus for the
dealer to put in his order. Also
note that this is 4 years after the initial release of the limited edition
pens, again implying that Parker had a difficult time selling a few thousands
of these pens.
