Hidden beneath the turquoise waters off a part of the US state of Florida known as the "Treasure Coast," a team of divers from a salvage company has discovered a treasure trove - a cargo of long-lost Spanish treasure estimated to be worth a million dollars.
More than 1,000 silver and gold coins believed to have been minted in the Spanish colonies of Bolivia, Mexico and Peru were discovered this summer off the Atlantic coast of Florida, according to 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels LLC.
Centuries ago, the wealth was being ferried back to Spain when a hurricane destroyed the fleet's ships on July 31, 1715, spilling the treasure into the sea, according to the 1715 Fleet Society.
Dates and mint marks are still visible on some of the recovered coins, the salvage company said, a boon for historians and collectors hoping to learn more about the lost treasure.
"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 at once is both rare and extraordinary," the company said.
Under Florida law, any "treasure" or other historical artifacts "abandoned" on state land or in state waters belong to the state.
The law requires the state to retain approximately 20 percent of archaeological material found for research collections or public display.
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