When you buy through linkup on our site , we may make an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it work .
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ( FWC ) , salvage operators contracted to investigate Spanish shipwrecks near Vero Beach , report half the historic coins they found and illegally withhold data about the other half .
The historical wreck were laden with treasure , as the Spanish were carryinggoldand smooth-spoken from the " New World " to Spain to help oneself pay for the res publica ’s costly wars , according to the1715 Fleet Society , a Pennsylvania - free-base nonprofit that researches the fleet .
A set of 37 gold coins stolen from a 1715 shipwreck off the coast of Florida was recovered recently.
On July 24 , 1715 , thefleet of Spanish gem shipsleft Havana , Cuba , channelize to Spain . When the fleet hunt down into a hurricane off the east slide of Florida mean solar day later on , 11 of the 12 ship dip . Hundreds of sailor died and over $ 400 million worth of atomic number 79 and silver went down with the ships .
Three centuries later on , phallus of the Schmitt family , sign to salvage artifacts from the shipwrecks , made headlines whenthey harbinger they had find out 51 atomic number 79 coins and 40 feet ( 12.2 meter ) of gold chain worth over $ 1 million .
The Schmitts , however , did not disclose the other 50 coin they observe .
Gold coins and gold chains were recovered from the 1715 shipwreck.
Related : Which Is Rarer : Gold or diamond ?
FWC investigators worked with the FBI to figure out that Eric Schmitt , who worked for his kinsfolk ’s company , the Fort Pierce - based Booty Salvage Inc. , planted three of the lift amber coin on the sea flooring in 2016 so that investors could discover them . Schmitt also sold several of the coin between 2023 and 2024 to auction sale houses and private individuals , according to an FWCstatement .
In all , FWC has recuperate 37 of the 50 coins that the Schmitts stole from the 1715 Fleet wreck .
— $ 17 billion wreck near Colombia is remarkably keep , new photograph reveal
— 32 haunting shipwrecks from the ancient world
— ' It is a treasure ' : crash off Kenyan glide may be from Vasco da Gama ’s final voyage
" This case underscores the grandness of safeguard Florida ’s rich cultural inheritance and harbour accountable those who essay to profit from its development , " FWC Investigator Camille Soverel said in the statement .
The recuperate coins will now be returned to their rightful custodians , fit in to FWC . Investigators continue to act on recovery of the rest 13 slip coins .
