Video Man, grandson discover possible 19th-century shipwreck in Florida
A man from Florida recounts that he, along with his grandson, located timber remnants of what might be a 19th-century shipwreck in Aripeka, a Gulf Coast community.
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Recently, during an underwater search of a sunken vessel, previously undiscovered Spanish coins, valued at $1 million, were brought to light, as stated by The Associated Press.
The 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC, a firm specializing in shipwreck salvage, used excavators close to Sebastian, Florida, in the “Treasure Coast” area of the Sunshine State.
A fleet of Spanish ships was transporting an assortment of jewels acquired from the New World en route back to Spain.
As reported by AP, a hurricane occurred on July 21, 1715, destroying the ships and scattering their riches into the ocean.
According to the same source, it is thought that the gold and silver coins were created centuries ago in Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru.
Approximately $1 million worth of gold and silver coins, originating from sunken Spanish ships, were discovered in Florida’s waters. (1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC via AP)
“The coins’ condition indicates that they were part of a singular chest or shipment that dispersed when the vessels shattered amidst the storm’s intensity,” the company stated in a release.
Sal Guttuso, the salvage firm’s director of operations, expressed that the discovery “pertains not only to the treasure in itself, but also to the narratives it conveys.”
The “retrieval is exceptional and infrequent.”
Guttuso further stated, “Each coin embodies a fragment of history, a concrete connection to the individuals who existed, toiled, and navigated during the Spanish Empire’s Golden Age.”
He mentioned that “unearthing 1,000 of them during a single recovery is both extraordinary and unusual.”
The Treasure Coast encompasses a section of land in Florida’s southeastern zone, comprising St. Lucie, Martin, and Indian River counties.
The 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC, a company engaged in shipwreck salvage, deployed excavators near Sebastian, Florida, on the “Treasure Coast” of the Sunshine State. (1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC via AP)
The region was given that name because of treasure-laden shipwrecks that occurred beginning in the 1600s, due to the reefs and remote setting, according to various sources.
The coins will be conserved before being made available for public viewing.
According to Florida’s Rule 1A-31.090, when artifacts are recovered under a state permit, the Division of Historical Resources retains up to 20% of the recovered artifacts for scholarly or public exhibition purposes.
The remaining 80% can be shared with the salvagers.
“Each discovery aids in assembling the human account of the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso said.
The Treasure Coast constitutes a section of land in southeast Florida, including St. Lucie, Martin, and Indian River counties. (Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
He stated further, “We are dedicated to protecting and scrutinizing these relics, so that upcoming generations can value their historical importance.”
Reporting was contributed by The Associated Press and Hayley Vawter of Fox Weather.
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