30 September 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Coins from the World’s Richest Shipwreck Could Confirm the San José Galleon

A recent underwater exploration off the coast of Colombia has uncovered compelling new evidence that may confirm the identity of one of the most legendary shipwrecks in maritime history — the 18th-century Spanish galleon San José.

The study, published in the journal Antiquity, details how researchers used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to investigate a wreck believed to be the San José, a royal treasure ship sunk in 1708 during a battle with the British Navy. The galleon was transporting an enormous cargo of silver, gold, and other precious goods from the Americas to Spain when it went down in the Caribbean Sea.

The Royal Treasure Fleet and the San José

Between the 1500s and 1700s, Spain operated powerful treasure fleets that ferried riches from its colonies in the Americas back to Europe. One such fleet, the Tierra Firme Fleet, linked Spain with modern-day Colombia and Peru. Its flagship, the San José, held a monopoly on transporting royal wealth and was considered one of the most important vessels in the Spanish colonial fleet system.

The exact location of the San José wreck remained a mystery for centuries — until 2015, when the Colombian government announced the discovery of a possible match off its Caribbean coast. However, a lack of detailed analysis meant its true identity could not be confirmed at the time.


Coins scattered across the shipwreck site were investigated. Credit: ARC-DIMAR 2022 / Vargas Ariza et al.
Coins scattered across the shipwreck site were investigated. Credit: ARC-DIMAR 2022 / Vargas Ariza et al.

A High-Tech Approach to an Age-Old Mystery

To investigate further, researchers from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) and the Admiral Padilla Naval Cadet School deployed a high-resolution ROV to examine the site without disturbing the fragile wreck. The vehicle captured detailed imagery of artifacts, with special attention on coins found scattered around the remains.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



Using advanced photogrammetry techniques, the team created 3D reconstructions of the coins — known as macuquinas, crude hand-hammered coins widely used in Spanish America. These coins bore mint marks and heraldic symbols that indicated they were produced in 1707 at the Lima Mint in present-day Peru.

This precise dating is crucial. “The ship could not have sunk before 1707 if the coins minted that year were onboard,” explained lead researcher Daniela Vargas Ariza. Historical documents confirm that the San José was transporting silver from Peru to Spain in 1708, aligning perfectly with the artifacts’ origin.

The symbols on the coins reveal they were minted in 1707. Credit: ARC-DIMAR 2022 / Vargas Ariza et al.
The symbols on the coins reveal they were minted in 1707. Credit: ARC-DIMAR 2022 / Vargas Ariza et al.

Closer Than Ever — But Not a Final Confirmation

While the findings strongly support the theory that the wreck is indeed the San José, researchers caution that the evidence is not yet conclusive. “Coins are key chronological markers, especially in shipwreck contexts,” Vargas Ariza emphasized. Still, further analysis is needed to rule out alternative possibilities and definitively confirm the vessel’s identity.

The discovery underscores not only the technological advances in underwater archaeology but also the enduring historical significance of colonial-era shipwrecks. As the investigation continues under the guidance of the Colombian government, the world watches in anticipation for final confirmation of one of the greatest shipwreck mysteries in history.

Vargas Ariza, D., Jaramillo Arango, A., Aldana Mendoza, J. A., Del Cairo Hurtado, C., & Sarmiento Rodriguez, J. D. (2025). The cobs in the archaeological context of the San José Galleon shipwreck. Antiquity, 1–6. doi:10.15184/aqy.2025.10095

Related Articles

Archaeologists Discovered Over 500 Ancient Coins and A Gold Template for Making jewelry in Bulgaria

17 August 2024

17 August 2024

In Plovdiv, in southern Bulgaria, archaeologists have discovered over 500 ancient coins and a gold template for making jewelry from...

A ‘Talismanic Grave Tablet’ Believed to Protect From Evil Found in Silifke Castle

3 September 2024

3 September 2024

During excavations in the Silifke castle located on lies on a hill in the town with the same name in...

Archaeologists discovered 7,000-years-old Neolithic Settlement in the Czech Republic

31 July 2024

31 July 2024

Archaeologists have discovered a Neolithic settlement of about 7,000 years old near Kutná Hora, east of Prague in the Czech...

A very Rare Medieval Pocket Sundial Discovered in Germany

31 July 2023

31 July 2023

A rare Medieval sundial, which is approximately the size of a matchbox was discovered in the old town of Marburg,...

A 1,500-Year-Old Roman Settlement Discovered in Bulgaria

21 March 2025

21 March 2025

In a remarkable turn of events, a team of archaeologists conducting preliminary excavations ahead of a transit gas pipeline project...

Unsolvable Megalithic Mystery of ancient Greek “Dragon Houses”

8 January 2025

8 January 2025

The Dragon Houses of Euboea, which probably dates to the Preclassical period of ancient Greece, are one of the historical...

5000-year-old female figurines found in a Ukrainian cave

15 May 2023

15 May 2023

Archaeologists discovered five clay female figurines hidden inside a hole in a wall in Verteba Cave, in the Borshchiv Region...

Military veterans uncovered ‘richest grave this year’ on final dig at Anglo-Saxon Cemetery

19 July 2023

19 July 2023

During excavations at an Anglo-Saxon cemetery on military training lands on Salisbury Plain, military veterans have unearthed the richest tomb...

A 3,600-Year-Old Bronze Minoan Dagger Discovered in Antalya Underwater Excavation

29 August 2024

29 August 2024

A bronze dagger with silver rivets that dates to the Minoan civilization approximately 3,600 years ago was discovered during an...

Construction Workers Discovered Ancient Sarcophagus in Turkey

2 March 2021

2 March 2021

On Monday, reports said that during excavations in the Seyitgazi region of Eskisehir Province in northwestern Turkey, municipal staff unexpectedly...

World’s Oldest Place Name Signs

4 February 2021

4 February 2021

Throughout the history of the world, our interest and curiosity in ancient cultures and lives continue to increase day by...

A Rare Late Neolithic Period Seal found in Domuztepe Mound

25 August 2022

25 August 2022

A rare Late Neolithic Seal was discovered during the 2022 excavations of the Domuztepe Mound (Domuztepe Höyük), located on the...

Zeus Temple’s entrance was found in western Turkey’s Aizanoi Ancient City

31 July 2021

31 July 2021

During recent digs, the monumental entrance gate of the Zeus Temple sanctuary in the ancient city of Aizanoi, located in...

The Lord’s Prayer Carved in Stone with Scandinavian Runes and a Picture of a Boat Discovered in Ontario, Canada

17 June 2025

17 June 2025

Hidden deep in the northern Ontario wilderness, an extraordinary archeological discovery has puzzled researchers and captured the imagination of history...

Dartmoor mining discovery rewrites more than 1,000 years of history

18 July 2021

18 July 2021

A new discovery at a Dartmoor mine in England dates human activity there back potentially by more than 1,000 years....