U.S. Postage stamp for Mayport

FIRST GOLD COIN IN NORTH AMERICA FROM THE RIBAULT EXPEDITION OF 1565. CALL FOR PRICING. Price: $0.00
The gold coin pictured above is a gold Ecu au soleil, struck in Rouen, Normandy, in 1565 under the reign of Charles IX of France (1561-1574). A crowned shield with three fleurs-de-lys is displayed on the obverse, along with the legend CAROLVS.IX.D.G.FRANC.REX. The reverse has a stylized cross with a fleur-de-lys at the end of each arm, and the legend CHRIST.REGNAT.VINC.ET.IMP followed by the date 1565 in Arabic numerals. The letter B at the center of the cross identifies the mint location as Rouen. The coin is un-circulated.. This particular coin was found in 1974 by relic hunter, Bill Saurwalt, north of Cape Canaveral, along with French and Spanish middle 16th century coins and artifacts. Douglas R. Armstrong, who along with Saurwalt discovered the site, was the first one to realize the historical significance of the find (This coin was first published in French Castaways at Old Cape Canaveral, p.106, by Douglas R. Armstrong, 1996). THE RIBAULT EXPEDITION OF 1565.In the mid-16th century, France was a vigorous, expansionist nation emerging from feudalism and dreaming of empire. Spain, the world’s leading power, already had a foothold in the Americas, and France wanted a share of the riches the Spanish were gaining through trade and plunder. France’s first attempt to stake a permanent claim in North America was at La Caroline, a settlement near the mouth of the St. Johns River in Florida. The growing persecution of French Protestants (Huguenots) led their most powerful member and leader, Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, to make a proposal to the crown. The colony could also be a safe haven for Huguenots. An exploratory expedition, commanded by Jean Ribault, left France in February, 1562. After erecting a monument at the River of May (now St. Johns River), Ribault headed north, left a small garrison at Charlesfort near Port Royal Sound, and sailed home. Within months the situation of his men became desperate and they returned to France.Coligny urged another attempt in April 1564, planning for a permanent settlement of some 200 soldiers and artisans, as well as a few women. Led by Rene’ de Goulaine de Laudonniere, who had accompanied Ribault on his previous expedition, they first touched at the River of May (St. John River) on June 22. With help from Indians, the colonists began building a village and fort on the river’s south bank, naming the area La Caroline, after their sovereign the young Charles IX. Good relations with the Indians eventually soured and by the following spring the colonists were close to starvation. Twice mutinous parties had sailed off to make their own fortune and some were eventually captured by the Spanish, revealing the presence of the French colony. The remaining colonists, having failed to discover silver or gold were about to leave Florida in August 1565, when they spotted sails on the horizon. Ribault had arrive with a relief expedition of supplies and 600 soldiers and settlers, including more women and some children.On learning of Ribault’s departure for Florida, Philip II of Spain sent Pedro Menendez de Aviles to dislodge the French from a territory they considered theirs. Arriving late at night, Menendez challenged the French. Immediately, the Huguenots cut their anchor cables and chased the Spanish ships south towards Cape Canaveral. Sighting a wide and well-protected inlet, the Spanish vessels entered it and established a camp that would become St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in North America. By the time the French ships arrived, the tide was too low to allow crossing the sandbar at the mouth of the inlet. As Ribault and his men waited for more favorable conditions to attack the Spanish, a hurricane moved in from the south, scattering the ships to the south and sinking them. Seizing the opportunity, Menendez marched north with 500 soldiers to attack the weakly guarded colony. Early in the morning of September 20, his troops massacred 140 settlers, sparing only about 60 women and children. Forty to fifty others, including Laudonniere, escaped and sailed for France. Menendez next marched south and found the shipwrecked Frenchmen, Ribault among them. They threw themselves on his mercy, but to Menendez they were heretics and enemies of his king and of the Catholic Church. At a place later named Matanzas (Slaughter), he put to the sword hundreds of men, at the exception of a few drummer boys who professed to be Catholics. A handful of Frenchmen managed to escape into the wilderness and found refuge with local Timucua Indians, setting up a temporary camp just north of Cape Canaveral in what is now Canaveral National Seashore.In the early 1970’s, a small group of relic hunters armed with metal detectors stumbled upon a site that yielded European coins, mostly French but also Spanish. To recognize Douglas R. Armstrong’s accurate interpretation of the site, it is now officially known as the Armstrong Site, and has been partially investigated by archaeologists from the U.S. Park Service. The above-described gold coin is one of only six reported found, of which the whereabouts of only tow are known. It holds tremendous historical significance, a gold Ecu brought to Florida 440 years ago by French Huguenots who died at the hands of the Spanish because of their faith, while seeking refuge from religious persecution in their homeland. This coin also symbolizes the tragic circumstances under which the first permanent European settlement in North America was established. This coin was also featured on the cover of "NUMISMATIC NEWS" Dec. 6th 2005. Also comes with a copy of Douglas Armstrong's book "French Castaways at Old Cape Canaveral" where this coin is pictured. A copy of the Numismatic News were it is featured on the cover and a write up inside. And also with a certificate of authencity.
Product Number: 872138