Discovery Center
2026 Recovery Season: New Discoveries from the 1715 Fleet
The waters off Florida's Treasure Coast continue to reveal remarkable pieces of history. During ongoing archaeological recovery efforts on our permitted shipwreck sites, our experienced recovery teams have uncovered a fascinating collection of authentic artifacts that have remained hidden beneath the sea for more than three centuries.
Among the recent discoveries are an exceptionally preserved onion bottle, a rare Lima 1 Escudo, a Santa Fe de Bogotá 2 Escudos, a silver religious medallion, fragments of an elegant gold olive blossom and smooth-link chain, and several gold ring fragments. Each artifact offers a glimpse into the lives, craftsmanship, and maritime trade of the Spanish colonial era.
These discoveries are a testament to the dedication and expertise of the recovery crews working with 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC. Every artifact recovered helps preserve an important chapter of history, allowing these extraordinary treasures to be studied, appreciated, and shared with future generations.
2025 Recovery Season: More than 1000 Silver Coins Resurface Since 1715
The summer of 2025 marked a historic moment on Florida’s Treasure Coast. Salvage crews recovered more than 1,000 silver coins and several gold coins from the wreck of the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, one of the most famous shipwrecks in maritime history. The discovery included reales (silver coins) and escudos (gold coins), many with visible mint marks and dates—providing an extraordinary glimpse into the wealth and craftsmanship of the Spanish Empire.
The story of the fleet is as dramatic as it is tragic. On July 31, 1715, eleven Spanish galleons carrying vast riches from the New World to Spain were struck by a hurricane and driven onto Florida’s reefs. Thousands lost their lives, and an estimated $400 million in treasure sank beneath the waves. For centuries, this tragedy has captured the imagination of historians, divers, and treasure hunters alike.
The crew of It’s Just Right is a subcontractor of 1715 Fleet Queens Jewels. The latest recovery suggests the coins likely came from a single chest scattered by the storm, preserved beneath the sand for over three centuries. Each artifact connects us to the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire, when Spain’s power was fueled by the riches of the Americas.
At Big Blue Treasures, we are dedicated to preserving and sharing this history. Our upcoming jewelry collection will feature authentic silver and gold from these shipwreck recoveries, carefully crafted to honor the legacy of the 1715 Fleet and the empire it once served.
Visit the official site of 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels for more information and images.
Splendors from the Deep: Historic Treasures from a Spanish Shipwreck
