Gold and Silver Coins Worth Tk 12 Crore Recovered from Shipwreck Sunk in 1715

A remarkable discovery has been made off the coast of Florida, where divers have recovered over a thousand silver coins and five gold coins from the wreckage of a ship that sank in 1715. The estimated market value of the treasure is around USD 1 million, equivalent to approximately Tk 12.17 crore.

The recovery operation was carried out by 1715 Fleet – Queen’s Jewels LLC, a well-known marine salvage company specialising in historic shipwrecks.

Discovery Details

Captain Levin Shavers and his crew aboard the vessel Just Right found the coins near Florida’s famous Treasure Coast, a region long associated with historic shipwrecks and maritime legends.

The recovered silver coins, known as Reales, and gold coins, called Escudos, are believed to have originated from Spanish colonial mints in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Many of the coins still bear visible mint marks and dates, making them highly valuable to historians and collectors alike.

According to historians, the recovered treasure is only a small fraction of a much larger fortune lost when a Spanish fleet sank during a devastating hurricane on 31 July 1715, while en route to Spain.

The fleet was carrying vast amounts of royal wealth from the Spanish Empire’s colonies in the Americas. When the storm struck, multiple ships sank, scattering millions of coins and jewels across the ocean floor.

In an official statement, Sal Guttuso, the company’s Operations Director, said: “This discovery is not merely about treasure; it is about history. Each coin represents a fragment of the Spanish Empire’s golden age and connects us to those who lived, worked, and sailed the seas during that era. Finding a thousand coins at once is both rare and astonishing.”

Guttuso further noted that these coins, often referred to as “Pieces of Eight”, serve as tangible links to a fascinating period of maritime and colonial history.

The salvage team confirmed that the recovery operation was conducted under strict governmental oversight and archaeological guidelines, ensuring the preservation of historical integrity.

Guttuso added: “Every discovery helps bring the story of the 1715 fleet closer to life. We are committed to preserving and studying these artefacts so that future generations can appreciate their historical significance.”

Before being displayed to the public, the coins will undergo careful conservation to prevent deterioration. Selected items will be showcased at local museums, allowing residents and tourists alike to witness a tangible piece of history — treasures that have lain beneath the ocean for over three centuries.