Treasure Hunter Claims Recovery of $1 Million in Coins from Spanish Shipwreck off Florida Coast

Over 1,000 gold and silver coins, valued at roughly $1 million, have been retrieved from an 18th-century shipwreck located off the coast of Florida, as reported by the Shipwreck Salvage Company.

The company, 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels, LLC, stated in a news release that it recovered the coins in July from the renowned Treasure Coast region in southeastern Florida.

This discovery is part of an estimated $400 million worth of gold, silver, and gems that were lost by the Spanish fleet during the hurricane of 1715.

“The find represents more than just treasure; it tells a story,” said Sal Guttuso, the company’s operations director, in a statement. “Every coin connects us to the lives and work of those who navigated the seas during the Spanish Empire’s Golden Age.”

“Finding over 1,000 coins in one excavation is indeed rare and remarkable,” he noted.

The prized assets of the 1715 fleet included coins from Spanish colonies in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Many of these coins still exhibit clear dates and mint marks, making them significant to historians and collectors alike.

“The condition of these coins indicates they likely originated from a single chest or a portion of the ship that dispersed when the hurricane struck,” the news release clarified.

During a call on Thursday, Guttuso mentioned that he discovered coins concentrated in various areas beneath the sand, indicating they were likely housed in some kind of container.

“I believe they were probably stored in wooden boxes,” he theorized.

He also revealed that he found a Royal Lead Seal inscribed with the impression of King Philip II of Spain, who reigned during the mid- to late-1500s.

“We can reasonably speculate that this lead seal may have belonged to a prominent family,” he noted. “It likely associated with important documents that may have granted ownership of land or rights.”

The Queen’s Jewels of the 1715 Fleet claims exclusive salvage rights to the wreck of the Treasure Fleet but stated that the recovered coins will undergo meticulous conservation before being publicly displayed, with plans for exhibition at a local museum.

“Each discovery contributes to piecing together the narratives of those connected to the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso remarked. “We are dedicated to preserving and researching these artifacts, enabling future generations to recognize their historical importance.”

Requests for comments on the findings were not immediately returned by the US District Court of Florida or by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s office.