A remarkable salvage operation has uncovered an astonishing trove of real-life buried treasure from an ancient shipwreck.
Beneath the waters of Florida’s Treasure Coast, a significant haul of treasure has lain dormant for over 300 years within the remains of a sunken Spanish fleet.
This summer, Captain Levin Shavers and his team retrieved a substantial collection of gold and silver coins from the shipwreck, which was lost during a hurricane in July 1715, buried under centuries of sand and sea.
According to a statement from Queens Jewels, LLC, the company holding the salvage rights to the fleet, the find revealed 1,000 silver coins known as ‘Reales’ and five gold coins called ‘Escudos’, along with other rare gold artifacts. This treasure is estimated to be worth a staggering $1 million.
Amazingly, the coins, referred to as pieces of eight, retained legible dates and mint marks from their origins in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, despite spending centuries underwater.
The state of preservation is so good that experts believe the treasure may have been stored in a chest or shipment that broke apart during the hurricane.
The Spanish fleet was on a mission to transport a massive fortune back to Spain when it was shattered by the storm.
Approximately $400 million in gold, silver, and jewels is thought to have gone down with the ship as it attempted to return New World riches to Spain, bestowing the eastern coastline its famous name, the ‘Treasure Coast.’
The sinking of the Spanish fleet is seen as one of the most significant maritime tragedies and treasure troves in the Americas, and this recent discovery adds a new chapter to its history.
“This discovery is not only about the treasure itself, but the stories it tells,” said Sal Guttuso, Director of Queens Jewels, in a statement.
He further commented: “Each coin is a piece of history, a tangible link to the people who lived, worked, and sailed during the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire. Finding 1,000 of them in a single recovery is both rare and extraordinary.”
The recovered coins are now undergoing careful conservation before being displayed in local museums across Florida, offering residents and visitors the opportunity to ‘witness firsthand the treasures of Florida’s maritime past.’
Sal Guttuso added: “Every find helps piece together the human story of the 1715 fleet. We are committed to preserving and studying these artifacts so future generations can appreciate their historical significance.”