More than 1,000 silver and gold coins worth an estimated $1 million have been recovered from the site of a centuries-old Spanish shipwreck off Florida’s Treasure Coast, according to 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels, LLC. The coins are believed to be part of the legendary treasure lost when a Spanish fleet was destroyed by a hurricane in 1715, scattering gold, silver, and jewels along the ocean floor.
A Rare and Concentrated Find Beneath the Sand
The coins were found in July off southeastern Florida in a concentrated area deep beneath the sand. Many are in remarkable condition, with visible dates and mint marks that trace their origins to colonial Spanish mints in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. Sal Guttuso, the company’s director of operations, said the uniform condition of the coins suggests they were likely stored in a single container when the ship broke apart.
“We think they would have had these things in wooden boxes,” he explained in a call. “Once the box degrades in the ocean, the sack inside breaks down too, and the only thing that’s left are these silver coins.” Some even bear faint impressions from burlap sacks, further supporting the theory that they were part of a structured shipment.
In addition to the coins, the team uncovered a royal lead seal bearing the image of Philip II of Spain, who ruled during the 1500s. Guttuso believes the seal may have once been wrapped around a document granting land or status. “You can almost assume that this was a family heirloom,” he said. “This lead seal probably had an important document around it that may have given that family title to lands or positions.”
Ties to One of History’s Most Famous Shipwrecks
The discovery is linked to the 1715 treasure fleet, a group of Spanish ships that were lost during a hurricane off the Florida coast while transporting immense wealth back to Europe. The fleet’s estimated $400 million in gold and silver has lured treasure hunters and historians for generations. Finding more than 1,000 coins in a single recovery is a major event, even for seasoned explorers. “This discovery is not only about the treasure itself, but the stories it tells,” Guttuso said. “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.”
Preservation and Public Display in the Works
1715 Fleet Queens Jewels says the coins will undergo conservation before being displayed. Plans are already in motion to exhibit select pieces at local museums, giving the public a chance to engage directly with artifacts from one of the most storied maritime disasters in history. “Every find helps piece together the human story of the 1715 fleet,” Guttuso said. “We are committed to preserving and studying these artifacts so future generations can appreciate their historical significance.”
The company claims exclusive salvage rights to the shipwreck site. As of now, the U.S. District Court of Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis’ office have not issued any public comment on the find.
From the sands off Florida’s coast, a new piece of the past has surfaced—carrying stories, secrets, and silver from a time when empires sailed the seas in search of glory.
