24 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Divers Uncover Over 1,000 Spanish Coins Worth $1 Million from Florida’s 1715 ‘Treasure Fleet’ Shipwrecks

More than three centuries after one of the most devastating maritime disasters of the Americas, divers off Florida’s east coast have recovered over 1,000 Spanish coins from the wreckage of the legendary 1715 Treasure Fleet. The discovery, valued at around $1 million, includes silver reales—commonly known as “pieces of eight”—and rare gold escudos, along with additional artifacts that once formed part of the vast wealth Spain extracted from its colonies in the New World.

A Fortune Lost to the Sea

The 1715 fleet, also known as the “Plate Fleet,” set sail from Havana on July 24, 1715, bound for Spain. Laden with treasures from Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia—including silver bars, gold coins, and royal jewels—the convoy of 12 ships represented the riches of an empire at its height. But within a week, disaster struck. A powerful hurricane slammed into Florida’s coast, sinking 11 ships across a 50-mile stretch of ocean. Historians estimate that as much as $400 million in treasure was lost, making it one of the greatest maritime tragedies in colonial history.

Some of the wreckage was salvaged in the immediate aftermath, but vast portions of the treasure remained buried beneath sand and sea for centuries. Over time, the waters off Vero Beach became known as Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” where divers and salvage experts continue to make remarkable finds.

Divers off Florida’s east coast have recovered over 1,000 Spanish coins from the wreckage of the legendary 1715 Treasure Fleet. Credit: 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels
Divers off Florida’s east coast have recovered over 1,000 Spanish coins from the wreckage of the legendary 1715 Treasure Fleet. Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels

This Summer’s Extraordinary Recovery

The latest discovery was made during the 2025 summer salvage season by Captain Levin Shavers and the crew of the M/V Just Right, operating under the authority of 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC, the company that holds exclusive rights to the shipwrecks. More than 1,000 silver reales and five gold escudos were lifted from the seabed. Many coins still bear legible mint marks and dates, offering historians vital information about Spanish colonial mints in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia.

“The condition of these coins suggests they were part of a single chest or shipment that spilled when the ship broke apart,” the company stated. Such concentrated recoveries are rare, given the centuries of ocean currents and storms that typically scatter artifacts.



📣 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!!



“Each Coin is a Piece of History”

For 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, the significance of the discovery extends beyond monetary value. “This discovery is not only about the treasure itself, but the stories it tells,” said Sal Guttuso, Director of Operations. “Each coin is a piece of history, a tangible link to the people who lived, worked, and sailed during the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire. Finding 1,000 of them in a single recovery is both rare and extraordinary.”

These so-called “pieces of eight” were the backbone of global trade during the 17th and 18th centuries, circulating across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Their influence was so widespread that they are often considered a predecessor to modern currency systems.

Over 1,000 Spanish silver reales and gold escudos recovered from the 1715 Treasure Fleet shipwreck, valued at $1 million. Credit: 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels
Over 1,000 Spanish silver reales and gold escudos recovered from the 1715 Treasure Fleet shipwreck, valued at $1 million. Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels

Treasure and Tragedy

The 1715 fleet carried more than just monetary wealth. Historical records suggest that jewels belonging to Queen Elisabeth Farnese, the second wife of King Philip V of Spain, were among the cargo. Her dowry reportedly included a 74-carat emerald ring and a pair of 14-carat pearl earrings—treasures still missing today.

Such legends continue to fuel both academic interest and public fascination. Yet the salvage operations are strictly regulated. Under Florida law, unauthorized removal of shipwreck artifacts is illegal. Only 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels and its subcontractors are permitted to explore and recover items from the wrecks, operating under state archaeological oversight.

Over 1,000 Spanish silver reales and gold escudos recovered from the 1715 Treasure Fleet shipwreck, valued at $1 million. Credit: 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels
Over 1,000 Spanish silver reales and gold escudos recovered from the 1715 Treasure Fleet shipwreck, valued at $1 million. Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels

Preserving the Past

The recovered coins are undergoing careful conservation before they will be displayed to the public. Plans are in motion for local museums on Florida’s Treasure Coast to exhibit select pieces, offering both residents and visitors a direct encounter with the maritime history that shaped the region.

“Every find helps piece together the human story of the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso emphasized. “We are committed to preserving and studying these artifacts so future generations can appreciate their historical significance.”

As the Atlantic continues to guard its secrets, archaeologists and divers remain convinced that much of the fleet’s treasure still lies undiscovered beneath the shifting sands. Each recovery not only revives the glitter of Spanish gold but also illuminates the lives of sailors, colonists, and royals caught in the tides of empire and disaster.

1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels

Cover Image Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels

Related Articles

The Discovery of nobleman Khuwy could rewrite Egypt history

25 October 2021

25 October 2021

The mummified corpse of an ancient Egyptian nobleman named Khuwy, discovered in 2019, showed the ancient Egyptians were carrying out...

Archaeologists have uncovered oldest Roman forum in Hispania, at the site of a named unknown city

3 September 2023

3 September 2023

Archaeologists have uncovered an ancient Roman forum from more than 2,000 years ago at the site of an unknown city...

Archaeologists Reveal Earliest Suburbs of Glasgow Beneath Gallowgate

4 October 2025

4 October 2025

Archaeologists in Glasgow, Scotland, have uncovered rare traces of the city’s earliest medieval suburbs during excavations in the Gallowgate district,...

Water Cultu in Hittites and Eflatunpınar Hittite Water Monument

4 February 2021

4 February 2021

The Hittites, which left their mark on the Bronze Age period in Anatolia, is a society that draws attention with...

8,000-year-old Cave paintings found in Türkiye’s İnkaya Cave depict life and death

10 September 2023

10 September 2023

A number of cave paintings dating back some 8,000 years have been found in İnkaya cave in the Marmara province...

New Type of Amphora Found in 5th-Century Roman Shipwreck

28 April 2024

28 April 2024

The first in-depth analysis of the cargo of a 4th-century Roman shipwreck found off the coast of Mallorca in 2019...

1500-year-old Stunning Pendant Amulet Depicting the Prophet Solomon Spearing the Devil on Horseback Found in Türkiye

15 November 2024

15 November 2024

During the excavations in the ancient city of Hadrianopolis in Eskipazar district of Karabük, Türkiye, an amulet from the 5th...

An ancient bronze hand may be the oldest and longest example of Vasconic script

20 February 2024

20 February 2024

Researchers have discovered rare evidence of an enigmatic ancient language on a 2,000-year-old bronze hand. The inscription on the hand...

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...

Tens of Thousands of Ancient Bronze Coins Dating from the 4th Century Discovered Off Sardinia

4 November 2023

4 November 2023 1

A diver spotted something metallic at the bottom of the sea off the town of Arzachena in the Sassari province...

A Baptismal Surprise: Triton Baths in Southeastern Rome Converted into Early Christian Church

7 May 2025

7 May 2025

Recent archaeological excavations within the monumental complex of the Villa di Sette Bassi, situated in the southeastern outskirts of Rome,...

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...

Shetland Discoveries Seem Close to Uncovering Ancient Viking Capital

4 July 2021

4 July 2021

Important discoveries were made on the last day of excavations to find the ancient Viking capital of Shetland, through the...

First in Anatolian Archaeology, a 2,600-year-old Sacred Room and Stone Symbolizing the Goddess Kubaba Discovered at Oluz Höyük

29 November 2024

29 November 2024

Archaeologists have discovered a sacred room and stone from the Phrygian period, dating back 2,600 years, during excavations at the...

3700 years old Brain and skin remnants discovered at Bronze Age settlement in western Türkiye

5 September 2023

5 September 2023

Archaeologists discovered, well-preserved brain and skin remnants of two individuals dating to the Bronze Age during excavations at Tavşanlı Höyük...