Jakarta Sea, Indonesia · 2007 Discovery
Two centuries beneath the Java Sea, the merchant vessel Forbes lay undisturbed — until now. Over 15,000 silver Ocho Reales, perfectly preserved, brought back to the surface.
The discovery and recovery of the Forbes represents years of painstaking underwater archaeology, expert salvage operations, and close collaboration with Indonesian maritime authorities. Every artifact retrieved tells part of a story two centuries in the making.
Local fishermen first reported unusual formations on the seafloor off Jakarta's coast. PT Nautik Recovery Asia's survey teams conducted preliminary dives and sonar sweeps, identifying a significant anomaly consistent with a large wooden-hulled vessel.
Detailed underwater excavation confirmed the wreck as a European merchant vessel from the early 19th century. Archival research cross-referencing Dutch East India Company records and British maritime registers identified the vessel as the Forbes, lost in 1804.
A multi-year recovery operation commenced under license from the Indonesian government. Specialist divers, working in conditions of limited visibility, carefully excavated the site — recovering over 15,000 silver Ocho Reales coins along with cannons, anchors, navigational instruments, and personal effects.
Recovered artifacts underwent professional conservation treatment to stabilize the silver and document each coin's condition. The entire collection has been catalogued, photographed, and assessed by numismatic experts. The Forbes coins are now available to collectors — each piece accompanied by full provenance documentation.
Beyond the silver coins, the Forbes yielded a remarkable collection of artifacts that illuminate the cargo and daily life aboard an early 19th-century merchant vessel. Each piece — from Chinese export porcelain to European trade glassware — tells a story of the vast trade networks that once connected the world's oceans. Click any artifact to learn more.
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The silver Ocho Reales — the famous "piece of eight" — was the world's first truly global currency, minted across Spanish colonial mints in Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru from the sixteenth century onward. By 1804, these coins were the backbone of international trade from the Americas to Asia.
The Forbes coins, recovered from the seabed off Jakarta, bear the marks of their mints and the faces of the Spanish Crown. Having spent over two centuries on the ocean floor, each coin carries a unique patina — a testament to its extraordinary journey. Every coin comes with a certificate of authenticity and documented provenance from the Forbes wreck.
Click a coin to view full details
Each Ocho Reales from the Forbes is a genuine artifact of the Age of Sail — a silver coin that crossed oceans, survived wars, and rested two centuries on the seafloor. Limited availability.
Browse the Coin ShopAll coins sold with full provenance documentation & certificate of authenticity. Shipping worldwide.
Whether you are a coin collector, historian, investor, or simply fascinated by the story of the Forbes, we welcome your enquiries. Our team is available to discuss purchases, provenance, and the broader story of this remarkable wreck.
Specialists in maritime heritage recovery and artifact conservation, based in Germany.
