Million-Dollar Spanish Treasure Found Off Florida Coast
A Spanish treasure worth an estimated $1m (£740,000) has been discovered off the coast of Florida. The find, made by a team of specialist divers, consists of more than 1,000 silver and gold coins. The discovery is notable for the visible dates and mint marks on some of the coins, valuable for historical research.
The coins were minted in the Spanish colonies of Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru, and were bound for Spain in 1715. They were lost at sea during a hurricane that wrecked the fleet of ships carrying them. The discovery was made by the company Queen Jewels, with Sal Guttoso describing it as both rare and extraordinary. Florida law states that 'treasure troves' belong to the state, but excavators can conduct 'recovery services' with permission. The leader of the company that made the discovery is Mel Fisher.
Under Florida law, 20% of historical artefacts must remain in public ownership for research or display. The fate of these coins, which offer valuable insights into Spanish colonial history, remains to be determined. Their discovery, however, is a significant contribution to our understanding of the past.
