Since ancient times, the sea has been used to move cargo and people. Raw bullion and coins were shipped across nations and provided currency to previously unpopulated areas. Unfortunately, these body waters claimed their share of lives and cargo and sent them to deep depths.
With the latest technology, recovering these treasures has been made possible. Shipwrecks lost for centuries are finding their way back to the surface. As a result, the shipwreck coins have become popular among treasure hunters and investors who dream of owning a piece of history from tragic tales of sunken ships that make up a million-dollar market.
Here are the top 5 shipwreck coins to look out for;
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1. Atocha 1622
In September 1622, King Philip IV’s Tierra Firme Fleet struck a reef and sank from a disaster storm and a massive hurricane near the Florida Keys. Gold, silver, and other valuables were lost to the sea, and more than 260 fatalities were recorded. Attempts to locate the ship failed until July 1985, when the primary cultural deposit was discovered.
The Atocha is regarded as the “biggest treasure ever found” due to its enormous value and challenging salvageability. Various treasures included gold and 200,000 hand-stamped silver coins made in the Spanish colonies, Colombian emeralds from the renowned Muzo Mine, and handcrafted items created for the King and Queen of Spain, clergy, and noblemen.
2. Maravillas 1656
The Spanish galleon, Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas, was lost on January 4th, 1656, when it unexpectedly ran into the shallow waters of Little Bahama Bank and rammed into other ships. The chaos and strong winds led to more than 650 crew on board losing their lives.
Robert Marx made the first discovery of the ship and its treasure in August 1972 and 1987 by Herbert Humphreys. The treasure includessilver salvaged from the South Seas Fleet and a gold statue believed to be stuck at the bottom of the sea.
3. S.S Central America 1857
The 280-foot sidewheel steamer S.S. Central America, also referred to as The Ship of Gold, transported people and gold from the California Gold Rush. Four hundred twenty-five men lost their lives, and more than 4,700 pounds of California gold were lost when the SSCA sank in a hurricane on September 12, 1857, 200 miles off the coast of North Carolina.
This significant loss undermined popular economic confidence as the cargo was essential to the financial market. All the treasure on board sunk into the Atlantic Ocean until the 1980s, when some shipwreck coins were discovered.
4. El Cazador 1784
Carolus III, the Bourbon King of Spain, dispatched the Spanish brig of war, El Cazador, to Veracruz, New Spain. The ship was loaded with nearly 450,000 Silver pesos to salvage the Spanish-controlled Louisiana Territory’s economy, which was failing. It sailed for New Orleans on January 11, 1784, disappeared into the sea, and sank without a trace.
On 2 August 1993, south of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, the shipwreck was discovered. Captain Jerry Murphy and his crew retrieved some of the treasures during one of their fishing expeditions.
5. Concepcion 1641
Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion sailed from Veracruz to Mexico on September 28, 1641, along with a fleet of 20 other ships. Soon after, the fleet encountered a severe storm leaving Concepcion with severe destruction. Concepcion was left to fight for herself, but unfortunately, it drifted under the north of Hispaniola reefs.
Part of the vast Spanish treasure on board was discovered in 1687. Other remains of Concepcion were found in November 1978 by Jack Haskins, Burt Webber, and the salvage crew and were documented as the most significant treasure discoveries of all time.
Buy the Most Valuable Shipwreck Coins Today
Whether buying shipwreck coins for investment or owning part of history, these coins hold great value and rich history. However, knowing which treasures to hunt for gives you a better start, especially if you’re new to the adventure.
Also, Read – Snips Tools: Everything You Need To Know
