A group of Florida-based treasure hunters recovered hundreds of coins this week from a fleet of 300-year-old shipwrecks off the Atlantic coast.
One diver described the discovery late last month as “almost paralyzing.”
“We weren’t expecting anything like that,” said Captain Grant Gitchlag. He told FOX 35 on Friday. “Always hoping, never expecting.”
Fellow treasure hunter Colin Lee agreed that it was “totally” unexpected, but that “that’s how the best finds happen”.
Centuries-old treasure discovered in shipwreck 5,000 metres below sea level
Treasure hunters were stunned that so many coins had been found in a shipwreck since the 1715 treasure fleet was salvaged decades ago. (1715 Fleet Queen’s Jewels LLC via FOX 35)
They explained that the discovery of 214 coins and other artifacts salvaged from a Spanish shipwreck known as the 1715 Treasure Ship is unusual because they had been salvaged for decades.
“To have this much in just a few days is a very exciting start,” Gitchlagh told the station.
A ring recovered from the 1715 treasure fleet. (1715 Fleet Queen’s Jewels LLC via FOX 35)
Ancient treasures found among 1,650-year-old artifacts unearthed in Israel
The group contracted with Sal Guttuso, owner of 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels LLC, the exclusive salvage contractor for the wreck and the U.S. District Court administrator.
Coins recovered from shipwreck are covered in 300 years of sand and shells. (1715 Fleet Queen’s Jewels LLC via FOX 35)
The hunters are now working to clean 300 years of sea dust from the coin, leaving it sparkling again, before they are ready to head out again to see what else awaits them.
In July 1715, the fleet set sail from Cuba for Spain with cargo and treasure from the New World, but a week later most of the fleet was sunk in a hurricane, according to 1715 Fleet Queen’s Jewels LLC.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“It’s discovery. It’s all about discovery,” Lee said. “I love the history of discovering something that was lost in a tragedy after 309 years.”
