The coins, from Spanish colonies such as Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, date from before 1715 and are probably from a fleet that perished on July 31 of that year during a hurricane.
The ships transported gold, silver and jewelry from the new world to Spain when they went through the bad weather. The disaster killed hundreds of people and left a trail of treasures on the seabed.
According to the salvage company, on some coins, dates and mint signs are still visible, which makes them particularly valuable for historians and collectors.
The find was made by Kapitein Levin Shavers and his team, who searched the seabed with metal detectors and sand suctions. The coins were spread over an area of only 25 square meters, deep under the sand.
The coins, from Spanish colonies such as Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, date from before 1715 and are probably from a fleet that perished on July 31 of that year during a hurricane. © 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC
Among the pieces found are silver ‘reales’ and rare golden ‘escudos’. Experts suspect that they come from a single box that ended up in the sea when the ship breaks. The coins will first be preserved, after which a part will be exhibited in museums.
Spanish coin treasure belongs to State
According to Florida’s law, historical finds in state waters belong to the state. Approximately 20% of the artifacts that has been noted is selected by the government for public collections. The rest is distributed among the salvage company and its subcontractors.
“We want to do it correctly,” said Sal Guttuso, operational director of Queens Jewels. “It is an advantage for the people of Florida. The treasures eventually end up in museums.”