This summer, divers off the east coast of Florida made an extraordinary discovery: more than 1,000 silver coins and several gold artifacts from the fabled 1715 Treasure Fleet shipwreck.
The Treasure Fleet was a convoy of Spanish ships that sank in a hurricane in July 1715 while transporting immense wealth from the New World to Spain. Hundreds of sailors perished, and more than $400 million worth of gold and silver was lost to the ocean depths. For centuries, this tragic event fueled legends of sunken treasure lying just beneath the waves.
Now, that legend has once again come to life. Salvage divers working with 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC, the company authorized to explore the wrecks, reported the recovery of over 1,000 silver reales (“pieces of eight”), five gold escudos, and other rare artifacts. These coins were once the lifeblood of trade in the Spanish colonies, symbolizing the reach and power of the Spanish Empire during its Golden Age.
“Each coin is a piece of history, a tangible link to the people who lived, worked, and sailed during the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire,” said Sal Guttuso, director of operations for the company. “Finding 1,000 of them in a single recovery is both rare and extraordinary.”
This remarkable find not only highlights the rich maritime history of Florida’s coast but also reminds us of the enduring mysteries of the sea — treasures that remain hidden for centuries, waiting to be uncovered.
