Additional Coverage:
- $1M worth of coins recovered in Spanish shipwreck off Florida coast, treasure hunters say (nbcnews.com)
Historic Treasure Haul Valued at $1 Million Recovered from 18th-Century Shipwreck Off Florida Coast
VERO BEACH, FL – More than 1,000 silver and gold coins, collectively valued at approximately $1 million, have been recovered from an 18th-century shipwreck off Florida’s famed “Treasure Coast,” a shipwreck salvage company announced.
1715 Fleet Queens Jewels, LLC, the company responsible for the discovery, stated in a recent news release that the significant haul was made in July off the southeastern region of the state. This find is believed to be part of the estimated $400 million worth of gold, silver, and jewels lost by a Spanish fleet during a devastating hurricane in 1715.
Sal Guttuso, the company’s director of operations, emphasized the historical significance of the find. “This discovery is not only about the treasure itself, but the stories it tells,” Guttuso said.
“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.” He added that finding over 1,000 coins in a single recovery is “both rare and extraordinary.”
The recovered coins, often referred to as “pieces of eight” (Reales), were minted in the Spanish colonies of Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Many still bear visible dates and mint marks, making them valuable to both historians and collectors. The company’s press release suggests that the excellent condition of the coins indicates they were likely part of a single chest or shipment that spilled when the ship broke apart during the hurricane’s fury.
Guttuso elaborated in a phone call Thursday, explaining that the coins were found scattered in a concentrated area deep within the sand. Researchers believe the coins were originally housed in a container, as some bear the distinct pattern of a burlap sack imprinted on their surfaces.
“We think they would have had these things in wooden boxes,” he noted. “Once the wooden box degrades in the ocean, and then the sack degrades, the only thing that’s left are these silver coins.”
Among the other artifacts recovered alongside the coins was a royal lead seal bearing the impression of Philip II of Spain, who reigned in the mid-to-late 1500s. Guttuso speculated on its personal value, suggesting, “You can almost assume that this was a family heirloom.
This lead seal probably had an important document around it that may have given that family title to lands or positions.” Fragments of a gold chain and a gemstone were also found.
1715 Fleet Queens Jewels, LLC, which claims exclusive salvage rights to the remains of the 1715 treasure fleet, has outlined plans for the recovered artifacts. The coins will undergo careful conservation before being displayed to the public, with select pieces slated for exhibition at local museums.
“Every find helps piece together the human story of the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso affirmed. “We are committed to preserving and studying these artifacts so future generations can appreciate their historical significance.”
Requests for comment from the U.S. District Court of Florida and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office regarding the discovery were not immediately returned.