Divers find $1 million in Spanish gold coins from historic Florida shipwreck

Marine excavators have recovered approximately $1 million worth of Spanish gold and silver coins from a historic shipwreck off Florida's Atlantic coastline, marking one of the most significant treasure discoveries in recent years.

The salvage operation by 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels LLC uncovered more than 1,000 coins this summer from the legendary 1715 Spanish plate fleet, which sank during a hurricane while transporting New World treasures back to Spain.

The discovery adds to the legendary status of Florida's Treasure Coast where millions in sunken riches have been recovered since the original disaster that scattered precious cargo across the seafloor from Melbourne to Fort Pierce.

Sal Guttuso, operations director for the salvage company, described the find as both rare and extraordinary, noting that many coins retain visible dates and mint marks identifying their origins in Spanish colonies including Bolivia, Mexico and Peru.

Guttuso expressed: "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."

The recovery operation employed specialized dive crews using underwater metal detection equipment and sediment removal techniques to locate the centuries-old artifacts.

Under Florida regulations, the state claims ownership of all historic artifacts recovered from sovereign waters, with officials selecting up to 20% of discovered materials for museum displays and research collections.

The remaining artifacts are divided between the salvage company and its subcontractors following federal court approval.