Portuguese 
Spanish 
Lost Treasure for Centuries: Florida Recovers 37 Gold Coins Valued at Over US$ 1 Million, Taken from a Spanish Shipwreck from 1715; 13 Others Remain Missing.
Florida has just recovered a valuable piece of its history: over US$ 1 million in gold coins that were stolen from a Spanish shipwreck from 1715. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced last Tuesday (26) the recovery of 37 of these coins, which had been missing for years.
The 1715 Spanish shipwreck dates back to a fleet of 11 ships that carried riches from the New World to Spain. Amid a devastating hurricane, the ships sank off the coast of Florida, scattering a treasure of gold, silver, and precious gems across the ocean floor. Decades later, in 1928, one of the ships was found near Fort Pierce, starting a frantic search that, over the years, revealed part of this submerged fortune.
Recovered Gold Coins
The 37 gold coins recently recovered belonged to a lot of 101 coins discovered in 2015 by the Schmitt family from Sanford. At the time, only 51 coins were properly recorded. The rest, reportedly, was kept secret – until now.
-
College Dropout Turned Window Cleaner Builds $1 Million Cleaning Business with Subscription Model After 18 Years of Door-to-Door Work
-
North Korean Soldier Risks Crossing One of the World’s Most Dangerous Borders, Detained in South Korea
-
Stingless Bee Honey from Brazil Can Cost Up to $120 a Liter, Surprises with Flavors of Wood, Citrus, and Even Cheese
-
Woman Claims to Have Spotted a Technical Pattern in Recent FIFA Tournaments, Predicts Possible World Cup Winner
According to authorities, investigations took a turn in June of this year when new evidence linked the illegal sale of some coins to rescuer Eric Schmitt. Between 2023 and 2024, he allegedly sold stolen coins, which ended up in auctions and private collections. With the help of the FBI and historical preservation experts, the coins were tracked and authenticated. Thirteen of them, however, remain missing.
The Search for Remaining Artifacts Continues
Schmitt now faces charges of trafficking in stolen goods. The recovered coins have been returned to their rightful owners, complying with state and federal laws. 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC, the company that holds the salvage rights to the Spanish shipwreck from 1715, continues to lead the search for the remaining artifacts.
Moreover, a federal agreement ensures that up to 20% of the salvaged treasures remain with the state of Florida for display in museums. Thus, the story of the stolen and recovered gold coins continues to fascinate generations, while part of this treasure can be admired in public exhibitions.
The discovery reinforces that, even centuries later, the mysteries of the ocean and the riches of the past still have much to reveal.
