A remarkable discovery has been made off the east coast of Florida, where divers have recovered more than 1,000 gold and silver coins from one of the most famous shipwrecks in the Americas—the 1715 Treasure Fleet. The discovery, made this summer by 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC, adds an interesting chapter to the story of Spain’s sunken maritime riches.
The fleet, also called the “Plate Fleet,” was composed of 12 Spanish ships that departed from Cuba in late July 1715 laden with gold, silver, and other treasures from the colonies of Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Scarcely days into the voyage, the convoy ran into a powerful hurricane off the coast of Florida, causing 11 of the ships to be wrecked and their cargo scattered along nearly 50 miles of coastline. Historians calculate that the storm swallowed up to $400 million worth of valuables, as well as the lives of hundreds of sailors. Although portions of the cargo were salvaged in the decades following the tragedy, most of it has rested undiscovered on the ocean floor for more than three centuries.
The latest recovery includes more than 1,000 silver reales, popularly known as “pieces of eight,” five gold escudos, and a few rare gold artifacts. The majority of the coins are in very fine condition, some of them with dates and mint marks visible that identify their origins as Spanish colonial mints. Their preservation suggests that they could have come from a single chest or shipment that broke apart when one of the vessels in the storm was destroyed. 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels reports that finding such a large cache in one recovery is very rare.
They were discovered in Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” an area that has long been associated with the wreckage of the fleet. Modern-day salvage operations, including those conducted by Queens Jewels, are carried out under state management and follow archaeological guidelines to ensure that artifacts are well recorded and preserved. While the economic value of the coins is high, the team asserts that the true value lies in their contribution to historical knowledge. Every coin is not just a representation of wealth but a tangible link to the people and circumstances of the Spanish Empire during the early 18th century.
The recovered artifacts will be carefully preserved to stabilize them after centuries in seawater. Already, some of the pieces are being prepared to be exhibited in Florida museums, allowing the public a chance to experience a direct connection to one of history’s greatest maritime catastrophes.
This new treasure is part of the decades-long effort to dive and document the 1715 wrecks. Treasure hunters have recently uncovered many treasures in the fleet, including a rare Spanish “tricentennial royal” coin specially minted for King Philip V and hoards of gold coins and gold chains.
Despite centuries of exploration, archaeologists are certain that most of the treasure remains beneath the sand and surf. Each new find adds to the bigger picture of colonial trade, life on the ships, and the risks of maritime travel during the era of empire.
More information: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC
Comments 0