Historic Coins Worth $1M Found in '1715 Treasure Fleet' Wreckage
Salvage experts have unearthed a trove of historic coins from the wreckage of the infamous '1715 Treasure Fleet'. The discovery, valued at $1 million, includes silver reales and gold escudos, spread over 50 miles along Florida's coast.
The coins, numbering 1,051, were likely stored together in a single chest when the fleet sank in 1715. This preservation method has helped maintain their condition. Among the recovered coins are silver reales minted in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, bearing visible dates and mint marks.
The team holding the salvage rights, 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC, has been methodically exploring the wreckage. In 2018, they recovered a cannon, and in 2024, a variety of artifacts including a flintlock pistol, a ceramic vase, and bronze keys, along with the remnants of a wooden box.
The recovered coins are estimated to be worth $1 million. However, experts believe there are still many more riches to be discovered from the wreckage of the '1715 Treasure Fleet', which once carried a total of $400 million worth of treasure. The salvage team continues its efforts, hoping to uncover more pieces of history from the ill-fated fleet that resulted in over 1,000 fatalities.
