Divers have collected over 1,000 coins from a wreck off Florida’s east coast. This summer, the coin was discovered in the historic “treasure fleet” of Spanish ships that sank in July 1715.
In a statement, representatives of the fleet in 1715 wrote that Queen’s Jewels, a wreck rescue company authorized to jump into the wreck, had recovered more than 1,000 silver reality (also known as “Peace of 8”) and five gold immunities, along with other rare gold artifacts. Both types of coins were the common currency of the Spanish colonies of the Americas.
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The coin is most likely covered in Spanish colonies in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, according to the statement. Some have mint marks and visible dates, and their excellent condition suggests that they are part of a single collection that was quickly buried when they spill and one of the ships fell apart.
The 1715 fleet, also known as the “Plate Fleet,” is loaded with coins and other products from Spanish colonies, and the 12 ships set sail from Cuba on their annual trip to Spain on July 24th. Eleven ships had sunk, their bodies scattered over a 50-mile span. Some of the treasures recovered shortly after the disaster, but many remained under the sea for centuries.
“All discoveries help to piece together the human stories of the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso said. The coins will be preserved and open to the public at the local museum, according to the statement.
The investigation of the shipwreck in 1715 produced other impressive discoveries over the past decade. In 2015, the diver was discovered along with a very rare Spanish coin called the “Tricentennial Royal,” minted for King Philip V of Spain, along with a million dollar gold coins and a chain of gold. However, that team led by Booty Salvage’s Eric Schmitt failed to report the 50 coins they found in the wreck. Local governments working with the FBI were able to retrieve most of the coins stolen in 2024.
Various treasures from the shipwrecked fleet may still be hidden beneath the sea. The fleet was said to carry a gem belonging to Philip V’s second wife as part of her dowry, including a 74-carat emerald ring and a 14-carat pearl earring.
Under Florida law, removing artifacts from shipwrecks is illegal unless a permit is secured. 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels have exclusive rights to jump into a shipwreck.
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