Jan Barterk – AncientPages.com – A private salvage company has uncovered a remarkable find valued at over a million dollars on Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” enriching the narrative of one of the most significant colonial-era shipwrecks. 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC, which holds exclusive rights to salvage operations for the 1715 Treasure Fleet remains, has announced significant archaeological and historical discoveries.
Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC
During the 2025 summer salvage season, Capt. Levin Shavers and his team aboard the M/V Just Right recovered over 1,000 silver coins known as Reales. In addition to these finds, they also retrieved five gold coins called Escudos and other rare gold artifacts. These coins were preserved beneath layers of sand and sea for centuries and are part of a vast fortune that was being transported by the fleet back to Spain when it met with disaster on July 31, 1715. A violent hurricane struck off Florida’s coast, leading to the sinking of eleven ships and resulting in approximately 1,500 sailor casualties while scattering their cargo along a stretch of coastline spanning about 50 miles.
Historians estimate that around $400 million worth of gold, silver, and jewels were lost in this storm—marking it as one of America’s greatest maritime tragedies—and treasures—in history.
Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC
“This discovery is not only about the treasure itself, but the stories it tells,” said Sal Guttuso, Director of Operations. “Each coin is a piece of history, a tangible link to the people who lived, worked, and sailed during the Golden Age of the Spanish Empire. Finding 1,000 of them in a single recovery is both rare and extraordinary.”
Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC
The coins, referred to as pieces of eight, were produced in the Spanish colonies of Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia. These coins often retain visible dates and mint marks, which are highly valued by historians and collectors. The condition of the coins indicates they likely originated from a single chest or shipment that was dispersed when the ship succumbed to a hurricane.
Left: First Mate / Diver Luke – Right: Captain Levin. Credit: 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC
The discovery site is located along Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” an area where contemporary salvage operations are conducted under stringent state regulations and archaeological guidelines to recover artifacts from the ill-fated fleet.
See also: More Archaeology News
“Every find helps piece together the human story of the 1715 fleet,” added Sal Guttuso in a press statement. “We are committed to preserving and studying these artifacts so future generations can appreciate their historical significance.”
The recovered coins will be meticulously conserved before being presented to the public. There are plans for certain pieces to be showcased at local museums, providing both Floridians and visitors with an opportunity to experience firsthand the treasures of Florida’s maritime history.
Written by Jan Bartek – AncientPages.com Staff Writer
