Philip IV 1 Real

The 1 Real coin of Philip IV was minted in such vast quantities that pieces have turned up in shipwrecks across the Atlantic, remnants of the treasure fleets that plied the trade routes.

These small silver coins, weighing about 3.4 grams, bore the king's bust on the obverse and the Spanish coat of arms on the reverse. Struck at mints like Seville or Mexico City, they used silver from American mines, often refined on site. Quality varied; some strikes were crisp, others blurry from worn dies. We don't know exact mintage figures, as records from that period are spotty.

One oddity: a fair number ended up with countermarks from other countries, adapting them for local use. As for myths, no, they weren't cursed—just currency that traveled far.

Not every collector spots the subtle die variations, but that's what keeps things interesting.