Archaeologists have discovered a ceremonial silver coin that was placed in the foundation of a church in 1584, at the founding of the ill-fated Spanish colony Ciudad del Rey Don Felipe at the southern tip of Chile. The colony survived for less than three years as harsh conditions devastated its settlers, but archaeologists have now found its “founding coin” exactly where historical records said it had been placed.
According to a report by Popular Mechanics , written by Tim Newcomb, the coin was placed by Spanish navigator and colony founder Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa on March 25, 1584, and remained undisturbed for about 440 years. Researchers say the discovery could offer new clues about the history and layout of the settlement, which was eventually abandoned.
