Khaberni - Off the Atlantic coast of Florida, specifically in the area known as "Treasure Coast" (Treasure Coast), a team of divers from 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC revealed a huge Spanish treasure estimated to be worth about one million dollars.
This treasure included more than a thousand gold and silver coins, believed to have been minted in the Spanish Crown’s colonies in Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru during the early 18th century, before hurricanes swallowed them and history's pages turned.
Sal Gutuso, Operations Manager at 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels LLC, said that this discovery "is not just a material treasure, but a chapter of human history."
He also confirmed that "Each coin carries a stamp from its time, from the hands of the craftsmen who minted them, to the sailors who transported them, and even the storm that buried them. Finding a thousand pieces in one operation is a rare and exceptional event."
Some coins displayed clear minting dates and stamps, providing historians and researchers with a rare opportunity to trace trade routes and the Spanish tax system during the "Golden Age."
The Law Protects the Past
Furthermore, Gutuso explained that his team "works in full coordination with the authorities," clarifying that "each excavation season is precisely documented, and the pieces to be displayed to the public are chosen after legal review."
Excavation operations in Florida are subject to strict laws, as any archaeological finds or "abandoned treasures" are considered state property. The state also retains about 20% of the discovered pieces for research purposes and public display in museums.
The Memory of the Sea
Gutuso described his work as "searching in the memory of the ocean," saying, "Every dive holds a new promise... the secrets are still buried under the sands for more than 300 years."
It is noteworthy that the story of this sunken ship dates back to July 31, 1715, when a large Spanish fleet loaded with gold and jewels sailed from the "New World" back to Spain.
But a severe hurricane struck the ships off the coast of Florida, causing them to sink completely along with the treasures of the Spanish Empire, according to a report published by the American agency "Associated Press."
Since then, the area stretching between Melbourne and Fort Pierce has become a stage for stories of fishermen, divers, and treasure hunters.
Millions of dollars in coins and jewelry have been extracted from the remains of that sunken fleet over the past decades.
