SLOW SUMMER FOR 1714 FLEET TREASURE SALVORS

The seas have not been kind this summer to treasure hunters looking for gold off the coast of Wabasso.

So far, the crew of the Capitana has recovered only one gold coin, an Escudo minted in Mexico about 1714. Diver Grant Gitschlag and diving partner Cole Smith made the discovery July 10 as part of the salvage operations underway for the 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC. Other items uncovered last month include silver coins, pottery and musket balls.

“It has been one of the worst summers weather-wise that we've ever experienced,” said Capitana Capt. Jonah Martinez, of Port St. Lucie.“But we're getting through it day by day, and we're working in an area where we found items before so we're optimistic.”

On July 10, Gitschlag had a hit on the metal detector, dug some holes on the ocean floor and the gold coin just popped out, Martinez said. He thinks many more items will be found in the debris field known as Corrigan's wreck, located between Wabasso and Indian River Shores.

The coins are part of the lost treasure from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks. Twelve galleons laden with treasures from the New World were bound for Spain but 11 were lost during a hurricane off the coast of Florida on July 31, 1715. Most of the treasure still lies beneath the ocean.

The 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC, a historic shipwreck salvage operation, owns the rights to the remains of the 1715 Treasure Fleet.

Former owner Brent Brisben acquired the salvage rights from legendary treasure hunter Mel Fisher and has since sold the controlling interest in the salvage company. But he remains in touch with Martinez, checking in regularly to see how the treasure hunt is going.

To read the complete article, see:
Salvagers recover 1715 Fleet gold coin but say treasure hunting has been tough this summer (http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2017/07/20/salvagers-recover-1715-fleet-gold-coin-but-say-treasure-hunting-has-been-tough-summer/495070001/)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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