Ship Bell Found

[Salvor6]

My friend found this ship bell on a small island in the Caribbean. I can't say exactly where. There is a large ballast mound at the site. Can anyone identify the markings at the top of the bell?

 

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[Joe-Dirt]

Very cool!!!!

 

[dognose]

Whats the rest of the bell have on it?

 

[Salvor6]

The letters are "?AFAN." It was found off shore of a small island in 20' deep water. He is taking it to a lab in Miami next week for conservation and analysis. He said the ballast stones were HUGE like from a 16th century wreck.

 

[Mackaydon]

A possibility?
https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/5003928
Don......
PS: AFAN may be the complete name. Consider......
The River Afan is a river in Wales whose river valley formed the territory of the medieval Lords of Afan. The Afan Valley encompasses the upper reaches of the river.
Don...

 

[1637]

good id,brad

A possibility?
https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/5003928
Don......

 

[barney]

A possibility?
https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/5003928
Don......
PS: AFAN may be the complete name. Consider......
The River Afan is a river in Wales whose river valley formed the territory of the medieval Lords of Afan. The Afan Valley encompasses the upper reaches of the river.
Don...

AFAN was broken up in Belguim, 1993. Plus I'm guessing one would know the difference between a vessel with ballast in 20 feet of water and a modern coaster? But the theory on the name is sound....

 

[xaos]

Sure looks like a 'T' before AFAN...to the right is an R?

 

[BLK HOLE]

Really cool bell!

 

[stevemc]

Being bronze he could have conserved it himself. Cleaned it up. But, I am sure they will clean it nicely.

 

[diverlynn]

The letters are "?AFAN." It was found off shore of a small island in 20' deep water. He is taking it to a lab in Miami next week for conservation and analysis. He said the ballast stones were HUGE like from a 16th century wreck.

How is this allowed unless he has a salvage contract?

 

[Boatlode]

How is this allowed unless he has a salvage contract?

**Shhhhhh!**

But I wouldn't be posting pics on an internet forum. Somehow he managed to get it off the island.

 

[Mackaydon]

The ballast stones and the bell could be totally unrelated.
Don......

 

[xaos]

He said the ballast stones were HUGE like from a 16th century wreck.

Lots of ballast means not a lot of treasure.

Looking at the top of the bell, this is very similar to a 'crown', and looks similar to the crown shown on a Dutch Coin from the late 1600's

 

[PetesPockets55]

Something Estafan?

(No Not either Miami sound machine one)

 

[devldog]

Very nice ships bell. That is a really nice piece of History there.

 

[Blak bart]

I see a....R....off to the far right. Decorative band looks to be baroque style. Cannot rule out church or mission style bell in route to or from the new world. A little cleaning could solve the entire mystery, might even be a date. Shes a beauty !!

 

[xaos]

that would be estefan!

I see a....R....off to the far right.

you never read my posts

Look at this, almost an exact match!

 

[PetesPockets55]

that would be estefan!

Exactly!
But I thought I would head any comments about them off at the pass!!

 

[ARC]

Salvor... only 1 picture ? sheesh and small at that.

Size ? LArge ? Small ? MEdium ? anything ?

And why wouldn't the remaining encrust not be removed from last ?

Conserve bronze ?

This looks like it is "half" of it.

Man... not getting on ya... but come on.

This COULD be a "good one".

PS... reading "AFAN" from lousy view... heh

Searched Spanish missing list and nothing with these letters IN that order correspond... so not Spanish so far ... IF that is what I am reading correct.