Dollar Ship

Last Updated on Sunday, 11 January 2009 16:54

17th Century - The Dollar Ship was a Spanish vessel, carrying silver, caught in a storm and possibly lured ashore by wreckers. She was dashed on to the sand and started breaking up below the low water mark. Tradition has it that the bulk of her cargo was somehow carried off by a notorious local smuggler – and possible wrecker of the ship - a Mr Mansel of Henllys, Llandewi.   By the time it was possible to approach in safety, most of the silver had gone but so had Mansel - fled or possibly murdered. (There is a tale of his Spectral Chariot which dashes across the sands pulled by ghostly grey horses on stormy nights.)   It was always said that there might have been more silver left on board and in 1807 an exceptionally low tide exposed the remains.    Digging around it before the tide turned produced more than 12lbs of silver dollars and half dollars, minted in Peru and, dated 1625 and 1639, stamped with the head of Phillip IV of Spain. Then again, in 1833, a very violent storm exposed the area and more coins were found and also two cannons, cannon balls, musket balls and an astrolabe. Salvage was interrupted by the rising tide and nothing has been found since. (Ref. 010)