Tag Archives: shipwreck

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

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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.”

Over 1,000 silver coins have been discovered from a shipwreck site in Vero Beach, Florida.
1715 Fleet – Queen’s Jewels, LLC

“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.”

Fragments and gems from a golden chain were also retrieved.
1715 Fleet – Queen Jewels, LLC
Gold artifacts were also found in Vero Beach, Florida.
1715 Fleet – Queen Jewels, LLC

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.

Matt Raviet

Matt Lavietes is a reporter for NBC News.

Christian Santana I contributed.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Wisconsin Boater Discovers Historic Shipwreck in Lake Michigan

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Olson noted that the wreck lies in shallow waters approximately 20 feet deep. He observed that the bottom of the hull is mostly intact, while the ship’s sides are cut and flattened like fillets.

Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist at the State Historical Preservation Office of the Historical Society, dedicated several weeks to scrutinizing newspaper clippings, archival insurance records, and a database of port registrations, which is comparable to vehicle registrations.

Thomsen and her team also undertook diving missions to identify specific characteristics of the wreck.

Based on the ship’s exterior and its general wreckage location, the Historical Society confirmed that Olson had unearthed the long-lost remains of the Frank D. Barker.

“What’s fascinating about this wreck is that it’s all there,” Thomsen remarked. “It spreads across the bottom like a puzzle piece that you can visualize and reorganize.”

The 137-foot Frank D. Barker was constructed from wood in 1867 by veteran shipbuilder Simon G. Johnson in Clayton, New York. This canaler is specially designed for operation in the Great Lakes, as Thomsen explained. It was built to navigate the Welland Canal, which includes a series of locks that permit ships to bypass Niagara Falls, in addition to a combination of natural and modified waterways.

The Frank D. Barker primarily transported grain from the ports of Milwaukee and Chicago to Lake Ontario, and on westward voyages, it typically carried coal from Lake Erie’s ports to the Midwest, fueling factories and industries.

In 1887, the Frank D. Barker sailed from Manistee, Michigan, to Escanaba, Michigan, to load a cargo of iron ore. Unfortunately, the ship’s captain and crew strayed off course due to inclement weather and fog.

Ultimately, the vessel ran aground and was stranded by blown limestone on Spider Island. Multiple attempts to salvage the ship in October 1887 and again in August, September, and October of 1888 were unsuccessful.

“They finally concluded that they couldn’t retrieve it from where it was stuck and decided to abandon the ship,” Thomsen explained.

According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the estimated loss of the ship was around $8,000 at the time, which translates to over $250,000 today.

Rediscovering the Frank D. Barker after 138 years is a momentous occasion for Door County, but it holds personal significance for Olson as well.

After informing the state’s historic preservation office about the findings, Olson chose to delve deeper into the exploration.

“When I think about my six-year-old son snorkeling on a shipwreck for the first time,” he shared.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Ancient Shipwreck Discovered in Mediterranean Sea with Canaanite Amphorae from 3,300 Years Ago

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The ancient ship and its cargo are estimated to date to the 13th century BC, making it one of the oldest shipwrecks ever discovered.

Canaanite amphorae discovered in a 3,300-year-old shipwreck. Image courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The 3,300-year-old shipwreck was discovered 90 kilometers (56 miles) off the coast of Israel, on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea at a depth of 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles).

“The ship appears to have sunk due to a storm or an attempted pirate attack,” said Dr Jacob Sharvit, head of the Israel Antiquities Authority’s maritime department.

“This is the first ship ever found in the deep waters of the eastern Mediterranean, 90 kilometres from the nearest coast, and also the oldest.”

“This is a history-changing discovery of global scale. It sheds light like never before on the navigational skills of ancient sailors who were able to cross the Mediterranean without ever seeing the coast. From this geographical point, all you can see is the horizon.”

“It seems likely that celestial objects were used to navigate by observing the positions and angles of the sun and stars.”

The discovery was made by a team from Energene, a London-based natural gas producer, during an environmental survey of the seabed.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to discover and extract natural gas from the deep sea, we are carrying out surveys to check various parameters using advanced submersible robots to explore the seabed,” said Dr Karnit Bahartan, head of Energean’s environmental staff.

“About a year ago, while surveying, we came across an unusual sight: a large pile of water jugs on the seabed.”

“We have been in constant contact with the Israel Antiquities Authority and when we sent them the images, it turned out to be a sensational find, far beyond our imagination.”

A 3,300-year-old shipwreck on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. Image courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“Robotic investigation and mapping of the site revealed that the ship was a wreck approximately 12-14 metres (39-46 feet) long and was carrying hundreds of passengers. Late Bronze Age Canaanite storage vesselsOnly a small fraction of it is visible above the ocean floor,” Dr Sharbit said.

“There appears to be a second level of ship hidden in the muddy bottom, with the wooden beams of the ship also buried in the mud.”

“The type of vessel identified in the shipment was designed as the most efficient means of transporting relatively cheap, mass-produced products, such as oil, wine, and agricultural products such as fruit.”

“The discovery of such a large number of amphorae on a single ship attests to important commercial links between their country of origin and the ancient Near Eastern countries along the Mediterranean coast.”

“This is a truly stunning discovery. There are only two other known cargo-laden shipwrecks from the Late Bronze Age in the Mediterranean – the Cape Gelidnja ship and the Uluburun ship, both found off the coast of Turkey.”

“But both wrecks were found relatively close to shore and were accessible using standard diving equipment.”

“Based on these two discoveries, the previous academic hypothesis was that trade at that time was carried out by flying safely from port to port, keeping eye contact along the coastline.”

“The discovery of this ship completely changes our understanding of the capabilities of ancient seafarers. It is the first time that a ship has been found so far away that land is completely out of sight.”

“There is great potential for research here. Because the ship has been preserved at great depth, time has stopped since the moment of the disaster. The hull and the surrounding conditions have not been disturbed by human hands (divers, fishermen, etc.), nor have they been subject to the waves and currents that affect shipwrecks in shallow waters.”

“The significance of these discoveries has led to the decision to open the archaeological campus for ‘tasting’ tours this summer, to display these Canaanite ships excavated from the seabed and to tell the public their story,” said Dr. Eli Eskseed, Director General of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

“This visit will allow visitors to get a glimpse of this unique building, its mosaics and laboratories ahead of the official opening of the vast visitor centre, scheduled for two years from today.”

“We are extremely grateful to Energiaan for their swift response in identifying this ancient cargo and for committing resources to enable this initial understanding to be gained from this unusual shipwreck.”

Source: www.sci.news