Gold has been discovered off Florida’s Treasure Coast, igniting excitement among locals and history enthusiasts alike.
Treasure hunters have recovered over $1 million in gold and silver coins from a fleet lost to a hurricane in 1715.
This significant find, announced by the salvage company 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels, LLC, underscores both Florida's rich maritime heritage and the entrepreneurial spirit that continues to define the state.
With 1,000 silver coins, known as Reales, and five gold coins called Escudos recovered during the summer months, this haul represents a mere fraction of the nearly $400 million yet to be uncovered from this historic shipwreck.
These coins, minted in various Spanish colonies such as Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, serve as tangible links to the past, connecting us to the stories of those who traversed the seas during the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire.
Sal Guttuso, the company’s director of operations, expressed the deeper significance of these artifacts, stating, “Every find helps piece together the human story of the 1715 fleet.”
This recent discovery, while impressive, is only the beginning of what Florida's coast has to offer.
The prolonged effort to recover the treasure demonstrates the determination and persistence of private enterprise, qualities that are often celebrated in our American narrative.
Florida’s laws mandate that the state retains 20 percent of the treasure for research and public exhibition, ensuring that the cultural and historical relevance of such finds reaches the broader community.
The treasure not only illuminates history but also symbolizes the state’s commitment to preserving its maritime legacy.
As recovery efforts continue, one can only wonder what findings lie beneath the waves, waiting to be unearthed, and the potential stories they carry with them.
This treasure hunt offers powerfully illustrative lessons about diligence and the pursuit of treasure that are rooted in the American ethos.
Sources:
westernjournal.comarchaeologymag.com