In a discovery that sounds ripped from the pages of a pirate novel, a team of treasure hunters has unearthed a fortune off Florida’s famed Treasure Coast. This summer, over 1,000 silver and gold coins, minted in the early 1700s, were recovered from the ocean floor, with an estimated value exceeding $1 million .
The 1715 Treasure Fleet: A Legend Reborn
The coins are the latest bounty from the legendary 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, a convoy of 11 ships that sank in a devastating hurricane on July 31, 1715, just days after leaving Havana, Cuba, for Spain . Laden with New World riches—gold, silver, and emeralds—the fleet’s wreckage has been a magnet for salvagers for centuries, earning the region its evocative name: the Treasure Coast.
The 2025 Discovery: A Diver’s Dream
Captain Levin Shavers and his crew aboard the salvage vessel M/V Just Right made the remarkable find during the 2025 summer salvage season. In a concentrated area of just 25 square feet, they recovered a stunning haul: 1,051 silver coins and 5 gold coins . Many of these coins are in exceptional condition, bearing clear dates and mint marks that trace their origins back to the Spanish Empire’s colonial mints.
Infographic: The Treasure Breakdown
| Coin Type | Quantity Found | Estimated Era | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver “Pieces of Eight” (Reales) | 1,051 | Early 1700s | Visible dates, Spanish mint marks (e.g., Mexico City, Lima) |
| Gold Escudos | 5 | Early 1700s | High purity, royal insignia, extremely rare |
Why This Find Matters
Beyond their immense monetary value, these coins are priceless historical artifacts. They offer a direct, tangible link to a pivotal moment in global trade and colonial history. Each coin is a silent witness to the ambition, peril, and tragedy of the Spanish Empire’s transatlantic voyages. For historians and numismatists, the clear mint marks provide invaluable data for understanding the economic flows of the 18th century.
This discovery is a powerful reminder that the ocean floor off Florida’s coast is not just a beach destination, but a vast, underwater museum. The work of teams like Captain Shavers’ continues to rewrite the narrative of the 1715 Treasure Fleet, proving that the golden age of treasure hunting is far from over.
