Atocha Copper Ingot 1986.008.1495

3D Model

A copper ingot recovered from the wreck of the 1622 galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The Atocha carried 582 copper ingots weighing a total of 15 tons. The copper came from the “El Cobre” mine located in the extreme southeast of Cuba, where it had been mined by African slaves for the Spanish crown. In Spain, the copper was largely used to make bronze artillery. This is a “splash” type ingot formed by molten copper poured into a shallow depression in the ground. It is 44.5 centimeters long and weighs 17.7 kilograms (39 pounds).