Additional Coverage:
- Photos show possible treasure from 300-year-old ‘holy grail’ of shipwrecks off Colombia (foxweather.com)
CARTAGENA, Colombia – Stunning new images of gold coins have emerged from the depths of the Caribbean Sea, offering tantalizing clues to the identity of a 300-year-old shipwreck. The wreck, believed to be the legendary San José Galleon, sunk by a British warship in 1708, has long been a source of fascination, its holds rumored to be brimming with treasure.
The Colombian government has kept the exact location of the wreck under wraps, but underwater investigations using unmanned vehicles have been ongoing since 2015. High-resolution photos taken in 2022 offered the first glimpse of the ship’s remains, and now, a new study published in Antiquity provides further evidence supporting the claim that this is indeed the San José.
Researchers painstakingly analyzed images of gold coins scattered around the wreck site. While an exact count proved difficult, they estimated the coins have an average diameter of 1.3 inches and weigh approximately 1 ounce.
Crucially, close-up images revealed intricate details, including the Jerusalem Cross and the Quartered Shield of Castles and Lions, a symbol of Castile and Leon. The reverse side of the coins depicts the Crowned Pillars of Hercules above waves, with an “L” nestled between the pillars, indicating they were minted in Lima, Peru.
Further markings cemented the coins’ significance. An “8” signifies their high value, an “H” represents the mark of Francisco de Hurtado, Chief Assayer in 1707, and “707” denotes the year of minting. These details align with the San José’s known history and its route prior to sinking in 1708, bolstering the researchers’ belief that they have finally found the elusive galleon.