300-year-old treasure from famous shipwreck found in Florida waters

KGCnewbieseeker

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Oct 29, 2005
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300-year-old treasure from famous shipwreck found in Florida waters - CBS News


FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- A historic shipwreck salvage operation says it has recovered more than a $1 million worth of gold artifacts, including a rare coin destined for the King of Spain, from shallow waters off Ft. Pierce in Florida.
Queens Jewels, LLC, owns the exclusive salvage rights to the 1715 Treasure Fleet. The Fleet sank along Florida's Treasure Coast on July 31, 1715 almost exactly 300 years ago.
According to the company, these artifacts were discovered in waters about 15 feet deep located approximately 30 miles north of West Palm Beach. They say they recovered 51 gold coins and 40 feet of ornate gold chain. The company says that the coins vary in denomination and include: 17 Eight Escudos, 22 Two Escudos and 12 One escudos.
The 1715 Fleet is considered one of the most significant maritime tragedies in history. Eleven galleons were filled with treasures from the New World and returning to Spain, but would never make it.


The ships departed Havana, Cuba on July 24 and were shipwrecked in a hurricane on July 31, 1715 on what is now know as Florida's Treasure Coast, according to the company.
Queens Jewels acquired the United States Admiralty Custodianship to the fleet from the heirs of world-renowned treasure hunter, Mel Fisher. Together with sub-contractors such as the Schmitt family, the company says it believes it is closing in on treasure estimated to be worth $400 million.
"These finds are important not just for their monetary value, but their historical importance," said Brent Brisben, Owner of 1715 Fleet-Queen's Jewels, LLC. "One of our key goals is to help learn from and preserve history, and this week's finds draw us closer to those truths."




 

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KGCnewbieseeker

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I was researching beaches to detect and discovered this article someone found my gold first! IM SO SAD!!!!
 

Slingshot

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There is still some scattered 1715 loot yet to be reclaimed from surf and sand.
 

Kevin in IN

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Will the State now claim this treasure because of the 50 year law ?
 

Tnmountains

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Not sure but it says they have the rights to the treasure. 400 million,,,,,, Wow! 15 feet of water...
 

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penzfan

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This is why we enjoy hunting the Treasure Coast. I just hunted 20 miles south of this site this morning...
 

UnderMiner

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So cool because this same sunken treasure was what kick-started the careers of two of history's most famous pirates - Black Beard and Black Sam Bellamy. Before they became pirates both were crewmen aboard the salvage ship Mary Anne, captained by Benjamin Hornigold. The crew had all heard of the wreck of the treasure fleet in 1715 so in 1716 they all set sail to salvage it. When the Mary Anne got to the site the crew was disappointed to discover the Spanish had already salvaged most of the easy to reach treasure. Frustrated the crew decided to become pirate. After awhile they elected Bellamy their captain and the original captain Benjamin Hornigold and his first mate Black Beard were kicked out of power.

Bellamy would go on to plunder more treasure than any pirate in history and at the same time develop a reputation as a merciful gentleman. Black Beard eventually acquired another ship and eventually a fleet of his own gaining the reputation of a merciless savage. Benjamin Hornigold gave up the pirate life and became a pirate hunter, he dedicated his life to hunting Stede Bonnet, Jack Rackham, and even his own ex-First Mate Black Beard. Hornigold died in 1719 when his ship caught in a hurricane and sank. Black Beard of course died in 1718 when Captain Maynard of the Royal Navy chopped his head off during their epic sword fight. Captain Bellamy more than likely died in 1717 when his flagship the Whydah Gally sank in a hurricane off Cape Cod (though some rumors of his survival exist as several of his crew DID survive the sinking and made it safely to shore). :icon_pirat:- argh!
 

ARC

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Will the State now claim this treasure because of the 50 year law ?

They have a deal.
State gets 20%...
Brent gets 40...
The crew/boat will get 40...

This has been my understanding.
 

Sir Gala Clad

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IIRC, that is 40% of the find (off the top) before expenses to the lease holder.
It would then be distributed by the lease holder to other partners/ participants/sub lease agreements.
This is in additon to the license fee that must be paid to the state each year, even if nothing is found.


They have a deal.
State gets 20%...
Brent gets 40...
The crew/boat will get 40...

This has been my understanding.
 

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penzfan

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I understand the License fee is $10K annually. Is that correct?
 

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