The Sunken Treasure Fleet of Vero Beach: A Legacy of Gold, Loss, and Enduring Mystery
The allure of sunken treasure has captivated imaginations for centuries, and few stories are as compelling as that of the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet. This ill-fated convoy, laden with riches from the New World, met its tragic end off the coast of Vero Beach, Florida, leaving behind a legacy of gold, silver, and enduring mystery. Today, over 300 years later, the wrecks continue to yield their secrets, tantalizing treasure hunters and historians alike.
A Fateful Voyage
In the early 18th century, Spain reigned supreme as a global power, fueled by the vast wealth extracted from its colonies in the Americas. Twice a year, treasure fleets would set sail from Havana, Cuba, bound for Spain, carrying precious metals, jewels, and other valuable commodities. These convoys were a vital lifeline for the Spanish Empire, but they were also vulnerable to storms, pirates, and enemy navies.
The 1715 fleet was composed of eleven ships, carrying an immense fortune in gold and silver, along with goods such as cochineal, indigo, and tobacco. The fleet was under the command of Captain-General Don Juan Esteban de Ubilla, and it included ships from both the “Nueva España Fleet” and the “Tierra Firme Fleet.” After a week’s delay due to weather, the fleet finally departed Havana on July 24th, 1715.
Tragedy struck just seven days later. On the morning of July 31st, a powerful hurricane slammed into the Florida coast, catching the fleet unprepared. The storm’s fury was relentless, and within hours, all eleven ships were wrecked, scattered across the ocean floor. It is estimated that over 1,000 lives were lost in the disaster.
The Aftermath and Salvage Efforts
The loss of the 1715 fleet was a devastating blow to Spain. The treasure it carried was worth millions of pesos, a sum that would be equivalent to billions of dollars today. The Spanish government immediately launched salvage operations, sending ships to recover as much of the lost treasure as possible. However, the hurricane had scattered the wreckage over a wide area, and much of the treasure remained elusive.
In the years that followed, pirates and privateers also joined the hunt for the sunken treasure. The wrecks became a popular target for these opportunistic raiders, who sought to plunder the riches that remained. Despite these efforts, a significant portion of the treasure remained undiscovered, lying buried beneath the sands of the Atlantic.
The Rediscovery of the Fleet
For centuries, the story of the 1715 fleet faded into legend, but the allure of its lost treasure never disappeared. In the mid-20th century, a new chapter in the story began with the emergence of modern treasure hunting techniques.
In 1961, a treasure hunter named Kip Wagner made a groundbreaking discovery. While searching the beaches near Vero Beach with a metal detector, he found several gold coins that had washed ashore. These coins were identified as belonging to the 1715 fleet, and they sparked a renewed interest in the lost treasure.
Wagner and his team spent years searching for the wrecks, eventually locating several of the sunken ships. They recovered thousands of coins, along with other artifacts such as jewelry, weapons, and navigational instruments. These discoveries provided valuable insights into the history of the fleet and the lives of the people who sailed on it.
Modern Salvage and Ongoing Discoveries
Today, the search for the 1715 fleet continues, with modern salvage companies using advanced technology to explore the wrecks. These efforts have yielded some remarkable finds, including rare gold coins, exquisite jewelry, and even a cannon that was recovered in 2018.
One of the most significant discoveries in recent years occurred in 2015, when a salvage company recovered $4.5 million worth of gold coins from a wreck site known as “Corrigan’s Wreck.” This find was particularly notable because it included nine rare “Royal” coins, which were made for the King of Spain and are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars each.
The ongoing discoveries from the 1715 fleet serve as a reminder of the rich history that lies beneath the surface of the ocean. These artifacts not only have monetary value, but they also provide valuable information about the maritime trade routes of the 18th century, the lives of the people who sailed on these ships, and the culture of the Spanish Empire.
The Enduring Mystery
Despite the many discoveries that have been made, much of the treasure from the 1715 fleet remains undiscovered. It is estimated that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold and silver are still scattered across the ocean floor, waiting to be found.
The wrecks of the 1715 fleet continue to be a source of fascination for treasure hunters, historians, and the general public. The story of this ill-fated convoy is a tale of adventure, tragedy, and enduring mystery. It is a story that reminds us of the power of the sea, the allure of lost treasure, and the enduring legacy of the Spanish Empire.
Visiting the Treasure Coast
For those interested in learning more about the 1715 fleet, a visit to Florida’s Treasure Coast is a must. This stretch of coastline, which includes Vero Beach, is home to several museums and historical sites that showcase artifacts from the wrecks.
The McLarty Treasure Museum in Sebastian, Florida, is a popular destination for those interested in the history of the 1715 fleet. The museum features exhibits on the fleet, the salvage efforts, and the artifacts that have been recovered. Visitors can see examples of gold coins, silver bars, and other treasures from the wrecks.
Another notable site is the Mel Fisher’s Treasures museum in Sebastian, which displays artifacts from various shipwrecks, including the 1715 fleet. This museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of treasure hunting and maritime history.
Spain’s dominance as a global power in the early 1700s was fueled by the vast wealth extracted from its American colonies. Twice yearly, treasure fleets, veritable floating fortresses, transported precious metals, jewels, and other valuable commodities back to Spain. These convoys were crucial for the Spanish Empire, but they were also vulnerable to the perils of the sea.
The 1715 fleet, comprised of eleven ships, carried an immense fortune in gold and silver, along with valuable trade goods. After a week’s delay, the fleet finally departed Havana, Cuba, on July 24th, 1715. Just days later, disaster struck. On July 31st, a powerful hurricane, packing ferocious winds and towering waves, descended upon the Florida coast. The fleet was caught completely off guard. Within hours, all eleven ships were wrecked, scattering their precious cargo across the seabed. Over a thousand lives were lost, and a king’s ransom in treasure sank to the bottom of the Atlantic.
Early Salvage and Pirate Plunder: A Race for Riches
The loss of the 1715 fleet was a catastrophic blow to Spain. The treasure it carried was worth millions of pesos, a sum equivalent to billions of dollars today. The Spanish government immediately initiated salvage operations, sending ships to recover as much of the lost wealth as possible. However, the hurricane had dispersed the wreckage over a vast area, making the recovery efforts challenging.
Adding to the complexity, pirates and privateers soon joined the fray, eager to capitalize on Spain’s misfortune. The wrecks became a prime target for these opportunistic raiders, who sought to plunder the riches that remained. Despite these salvage efforts, a significant portion of the treasure remained undiscovered, buried beneath the shifting sands of the Atlantic.
The Dawn of Modern Treasure Hunting: Kip Wagner’s Breakthrough
For centuries, the story of the 1715 fleet faded into legend, but the allure of its lost treasure never disappeared. In the mid-20th century, a new era of treasure hunting emerged, driven by technological advancements. One individual, Kip Wagner, played a pivotal role in rediscovering the lost riches.
In 1961, while scouring the beaches near Vero Beach with a metal detector, Wagner stumbled upon several gold coins. These coins were identified as belonging to the 1715 fleet, igniting a renewed interest in the sunken treasure. Wagner and his team dedicated years to searching for the wrecks, eventually locating several of the sunken ships. They recovered thousands of coins, along with other artifacts, ushering in a new age of discovery.
A Treasure Trove of Gold and Silver: What Was Found?
The recovered gold and silver from the 1715 fleet are a testament to the vast wealth that flowed through the Spanish Empire. The discoveries include a stunning array of artifacts:
- Gold Coins: Thousands of gold coins of various denominations have been recovered, including doubloons, escudos, and pistoles. These coins, often intricately designed, represent a significant portion of the recovered treasure.
- Silver Coins: Silver coins, including pieces of eight and reales, were also abundant in the fleet’s cargo. These coins, used in everyday transactions, provide a glimpse into the economic life of the era.
- Jewelry: Exquisite gold and silver jewelry, including necklaces, rings, earrings, and pendants, have been unearthed from the wrecks. These pieces, often adorned with precious stones, showcase the craftsmanship of the period.
- Bullion: Bars of gold and silver bullion, intended for the Spanish treasury, have also been recovered. These bars, often stamped with markings indicating their origin and purity, represent a substantial portion of the fleet’s wealth.
- Religious Artifacts: Religious items, such as crosses and medallions, have been found, offering insights into the religious beliefs of the time.
- Personal Items: Personal belongings, such as buckles, buttons, and utensils, have also been recovered, providing a glimpse into the lives of the people who sailed on the fleet.
The Significance of the Recovered Treasure: More Than Just Gold
The recovered gold and silver from the 1715 fleet are not just valuable for their monetary worth. They also hold immense historical significance. These artifacts provide invaluable information about:
- Maritime Trade Routes: The treasure recovered from the fleet highlights the importance of the maritime trade routes between the Americas and Spain.
- Spanish Colonial Economy: The sheer volume of gold and silver reveals the scale of the Spanish colonial economy and the wealth extracted from the New World.
- 18th-Century Craftsmanship: The intricate designs and craftsmanship of the gold and silver artifacts showcase the skills of the artisans of the era.
- Life Aboard a Treasure Fleet: The personal items recovered offer a glimpse into the daily lives of the sailors, merchants, and passengers who sailed on the fleet.
Ongoing Discoveries and the Enduring Mystery: The Search Continues
Despite the remarkable discoveries made so far, it is estimated that a significant portion of the treasure from the 1715 fleet remains undiscovered. Modern salvage companies continue to explore the wreck sites, utilizing advanced technology to uncover more of the lost riches.
The ongoing discoveries serve as a reminder of the rich history that lies beneath the ocean’s surface. The story of the 1715 fleet, a tale of tragedy, adventure, and lost treasure, continues to captivate and inspire. As technology advances, it is likely that more of the fleet’s secrets will be revealed in the years to come, adding to the ongoing saga of the sunken riches of Vero Beach. The allure of lost treasure, combined with the historical significance of the artifacts, ensures that the story of the 1715 fleet will continue to fascinate for generations to come.
List of identified ships
- Urca de Lima (Santissima Trinidad)
- former HMS Hampton Court (Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Antonio)
- Santo Cristo de San Roman[6]
- Nuestra Señora de las Nieves[7]
- Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Francisco Xavier[8]
- Nuestra Señora del Carmen y San Antonio[9]
- Nuestra Señora de Regla
- Nuestra Señora de la Popa (La Holandesa)
New evidence (see Jorge Proctor, 2021) shows that the Douglass Beach Wreck, long believed to be the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, is in fact the Santa Rita y Las Animas, bought by Ubilla in Cuba and renamed Nuestra Señora de Regla, like his flagship.
$4.5M worth of sunken Spanish treasure recovered in Vero Beach
This article originally appeared at WPBF.com, August 20, 2015.
VERO BEACH, Fla —Queens Jewels, a historic shipwreck salvage operation that owns the exclusive rights to the remains of the 1715 Treasure Fleet, has recovered gold coins off the Treasure Coast valued at $4.5 million.
On Wednesday, the company announced that it recovered more than 350 gold coins on July 31 – 300 years to the date that the ship sank.
On Wednesday, the company announced that it recovered more than 350 gold coins on July 31 – 300 years to the date that the ship sank.
Nine of the coins, called Royals, were made for the King of Spain, Phillip V, and are valued at $300,000 a piece. The nine Royals account for 30 percent of all Royals known to exist, a release said.
The artifacts were discovered in shallow waters – about 6 feet deep – off the coast of Vero Beach.
Brent Brisben, owner of 1715 Fleet-Queen’s Jewels, LLC, said the 1715 Fleet is considered one of the most important maritime tragedies in history.
Eleven galleons laden with treasures from the New World and returning to Spain departed from Havana, Cuba on July 24, 1715, and were shipwrecked in a hurricane on July 31 on what is now known as Florida’s Treasure Coast.
“These finds are important not just for their monetary value, but their historical importance,” said Brisben. “One of our key goals is to help learn from and preserve history, and this week’s finds draw us closer to those truths.”
The four treasure hunters say it’s too early to know whether they’ll sell their share of the treasure.
Crew members of the Capitana said Thursday they do know one thing: They plan to keep searching for more treasure.
They say their motivation isn’t wealth but the thrill of the hunt for items from the site of the 300-year-old shipwreck.
They also say there’s still $400 million down there.
In June, a Florida family found more than $1 million in treasure from the shipwreck.
The State of Florida is entitled 20 percent of the recovered artifacts for purposes of displaying in their Museum in Tallahassee, the release said.
Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press