The exploration of the world’s seas has revealed some of the greatest shipwreck treasures, many of which are said to be stories of great adventures.
Here are six of the most significant shipwreck treasures ever found:Here are six of the most significant shipwreck treasures ever found:
Nuestra Señora de Atocha
The Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank off the coast of Florida in 1622, loaded with treasures from the New World. Mel Fisher himself found wreckage in 1985 and treasures of gold, silver, emeralds and other valuables amounting to more than $ 450 million. The Atocha remains one of the most celebrated and richest shipwrecks to this date.
The Black Swan Project
Odyssey Marine Exploration, a treasure-hunting company, came across silver and gold coins in 2007 that were retrieved from a ship thought to be the ship of Spain’s Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, destroyed by the British Navy in 1804.
The discovery was called the Black Swan Project; it comprises more than half a million coins, estimated to be worth $500 million. But this discovery led to many years of litigation between Odyssey and the Spanish government, with the latter regaining the treasure.
SS Central America
Historically known as the ‘Ship of Gold’, SS Central America, which was a steamship that sank in a hurricane off South Carolina in 1857, was transporting gold from the California gold fields. When Tommy Thompson discovered the shipwreck in 1988, he discovered gold bars, coins, and other valuables valued at over $100 million.
Besides the monetary value of the recovery, the treasure from SS Central America will be interesting for fans of the Gold Rush Era.
San José
San José, a Spanish galleon, was destroyed by the British navy in 1708 near Colombia, transporting a colossal cargo of gold, silver and emeralds for King Philip V of Spain. Diving on the so-called ‘The Holy Grail of Shipwrecks’ and known for containing approximately $4–$17 billion worth of silver coins and bullion, the SS San José was located only in 2015. But the specifics are still undisclosed, which is still being contested in the courts with regards to the ownership of the treasure.
The Titanic
Although the discovery of the Titanic made in 1985 is not strictly speaking a treasure ship, one can still talk about jewels, which are the parts of the ship and personal belongings.
Popularly known as the ‘Titanic,’ the luxury liner struck an iceberg and sank in 1912; its wreckage has been attempted to be retrieved several times. Jewelry, china and even a violin taken from the wreck have sold for millions, and thus, the Titanic is one of the most popular and lucrative maritime wrecks in history.
The Antikythera Shipwreck
Excavated near the island of Antikythera in Greece in 1900, the Antikythera shipwreck is one of the earliest recorded shipwrecks that dates back to approximately 70 – 60 BC. An extensive amount of ancient artifacts, such as statues, pottery, and the famous Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek analog computer for predicting the positions of celestial bodies, were found in the wreck.
As for the monetary value of the found items, it is impossible to state, but in terms of historical and scientific value, this find can be ranked as one of the most important underwater discoveries ever.
Beside their material value, such shipwreck treasures are historical artifacts that tell an incredible amount of information about the time, culture, and technological advances of the era of wrecks. Every find has a history behind it, triumphs and/or failures, and people’s desire for ocean adventures.
ASH CK