Discovered on the Seabed off Florida's East Coast
Sank While Heading to Spain 300 Years Ago
Many Treasures Still Believed to Be Unfound
Gold and silver treasures believed to have been carried on a Spanish ship that sank more than 300 years ago have been discovered on the seabed off the east coast of Florida, United States.
On October 3 (local time), American media outlets such as The New York Times reported that 1715 Fleet Queen's Jewels, a company specializing in shipwreck salvage, found a total of about 1,000 gold and silver coins off the Florida coast this summer, with a current estimated value of around 1 million dollars (approximately 1.4 billion won). The Florida coast is where 11 Spanish ships sank in 1715. It is known that at the time, ships carrying treasures worth 400 million dollars (about 560 billion won) sank while traveling from the Americas to Spain. In 2013, treasures believed to have been carried on Spanish ships were also discovered off the Florida coast.
The silver coins found this time are reales minted in Spanish colonies such as Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. The mint marks and dates are clearly preserved, and the coins are reported to be in good condition.
The salvage company noted that historical records indicate Spanish fleets typically packed coins in bags of 1,000 and then placed 3,000 to 4,000 coins in a single chest for transport. Therefore, they expect to discover additional treasures during the next exploration season.
After undergoing various preservation processes, the recovered coins will be distributed to several parties. Florida state law stipulates that treasures or historical artifacts abandoned on state-owned land or in state waters become state property. Accordingly, under this law, Florida can request up to 20% of the coins discovered this time to be donated for purposes such as museum exhibitions. The remaining coins will be divided among the salvage company and its subcontractors.
Meanwhile, among the items found with the coins was also a royal lead seal bearing the image of King Philip II, who ruled Spain from the mid to late 1500s.
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