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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Fla. — A gold-rimmed portrait necklace, several gold and silver coins and numerous artifacts from a 1715 Spanish fleet have been discovered in about 10 feet of water off the aptly named Treasure Coast of Florida.
The June 19 find just off Indian River Shores was announced Monday by a firm that also said it has acquired the salvage rights to the sunken ships from the heirs of world-famous treasure hunter Mel Fisher. The company plans to ramp up recovery efforts.
In 1715, an 11-ship fleet set sail from Cuba laden with gold bars, coins, diamonds, emeralds and pearls bound for King Philip V of Spain. The bounty included the dowry for Philip’s new bride, Elisabeth, who refused to consummate their marriage until she received it. The ships sank in a hurricane off the Treasure Coast.
“The ships were blown into the reefs and sank, so they’re relatively close to shore,” said Brent Brisben of Sebastian, Fla., who with his father, William Brisben of Jupiter Island, Fla., formed Queen’s Jewels and bought the U.S. admiralty custodianship of the Spanish fleet and the right to salvage the wrecked ships from Fisher’s heirs.
The sites of six of the sunken ships have been found, some in only 10 feet to 20 feet of water. But the bulk of the treasure — including the queen’s jewels, estimated to be worth close to $900 million — still hasn’t been recovered.
Capt. Greg Bounds, whose boat “Gold Hound” made the most recent discovery off the coast of Indian River Shores, is one of about 15 subcontractors who have worked with Mel Fisher Treasure and will continue to work with the Brisbens.
In 2007, Bounds uncovered more than $12.9 million worth of gold chains, pearls, coins, swords and other artifacts from the 400-year-old Santa Margarita site in the Florida Keys.
“People don’t realize how much history is lying right off our beaches. It’s exciting to be a part of bringing that history to light,” Bounds said.
But don’t go firing up your fishing boat and starting your own search for buried treasure: Fisher earned the right to salvage the 1715 fleet after a 1982 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court gave him official admiralty custodianship of the wrecks, a right Bounds compares to registering a claim with the government to pan for gold.
Brisben declined to say how much he and his father paid for the salvage right; but he’s serious about safeguarding his 300-square-mile stake, which extends from the low-tide mark into the ocean.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/jun/29/sunken-treasure-n-spanish-artifacts-found-off-of/
The June 19 find just off Indian River Shores was announced Monday by a firm that also said it has acquired the salvage rights to the sunken ships from the heirs of world-famous treasure hunter Mel Fisher. The company plans to ramp up recovery efforts.
In 1715, an 11-ship fleet set sail from Cuba laden with gold bars, coins, diamonds, emeralds and pearls bound for King Philip V of Spain. The bounty included the dowry for Philip’s new bride, Elisabeth, who refused to consummate their marriage until she received it. The ships sank in a hurricane off the Treasure Coast.
“The ships were blown into the reefs and sank, so they’re relatively close to shore,” said Brent Brisben of Sebastian, Fla., who with his father, William Brisben of Jupiter Island, Fla., formed Queen’s Jewels and bought the U.S. admiralty custodianship of the Spanish fleet and the right to salvage the wrecked ships from Fisher’s heirs.
The sites of six of the sunken ships have been found, some in only 10 feet to 20 feet of water. But the bulk of the treasure — including the queen’s jewels, estimated to be worth close to $900 million — still hasn’t been recovered.
Capt. Greg Bounds, whose boat “Gold Hound” made the most recent discovery off the coast of Indian River Shores, is one of about 15 subcontractors who have worked with Mel Fisher Treasure and will continue to work with the Brisbens.
In 2007, Bounds uncovered more than $12.9 million worth of gold chains, pearls, coins, swords and other artifacts from the 400-year-old Santa Margarita site in the Florida Keys.
“People don’t realize how much history is lying right off our beaches. It’s exciting to be a part of bringing that history to light,” Bounds said.
But don’t go firing up your fishing boat and starting your own search for buried treasure: Fisher earned the right to salvage the 1715 fleet after a 1982 ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court gave him official admiralty custodianship of the wrecks, a right Bounds compares to registering a claim with the government to pan for gold.
Brisben declined to say how much he and his father paid for the salvage right; but he’s serious about safeguarding his 300-square-mile stake, which extends from the low-tide mark into the ocean.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2010/jun/29/sunken-treasure-n-spanish-artifacts-found-off-of/
