Florida authorities recently announced the successful recovery of 37 gold coins, valued at over $1 million, which had been stolen from the infamous 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet shipwreck. This recovery marks a significant milestone, culminating from years of investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the FBI, aiming to crack down on the illegal trafficking of such priceless historical artifacts.
The 1715 Fleet, famous for its disastrous sinking off Florida's Treasure Coast, comprised eleven ships carrying immense wealth from the New World back to Spain. A hurricane struck shortly after the fleet departed from Havana on July 24, 1715, leading to the tragic loss of the vessels and, by extension, the considerable amount of treasure they carried.
Despite the wreck occurring nearly 310 years ago, treasure hunters and salvagers have pursued the remnants of this fleet for decades. The Schmitt family, with their business Booty Salvage, came under scrutiny when they reported the discovery of 101 gold coins off the Fort Pierce coast back in 2015 through their contract with 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC. While they correctly reported 51 coins, they omitted the existence of 50 others, which fueled suspicions about their dealings.
Investigators were alerted to this case, and new evidence emerged early this year, prompting the FWC to conduct searches across private residences, safe deposit boxes, and even auction houses. Authorities recovered five coins from a Florida auctioneer who, unbeknownst to them, had purchased stolen goods from Schmitt.
Eric Schmitt, identified as the primary suspect, has been charged with dealing and trafficking stolen property. Investigators employed advanced digital forensics techniques, linking Schmitt to photographs taken at his condominium which showed the stolen coins. Notably, three of the purloined coins were later found on the ocean floor, having been placed there by Schmitt himself to deceive potential investors of the treasure-hunting company.
FWC Investigator Camille Soverel emphasized the importance of protecting Florida's cultural heritage and ensuring legal accountability for those who profit from exploiting such treasures. Historically, the sunken fleet's treasures have continued to captivate people, with treasure hunting yielding millions of dollars over the years from various artifacts.
This latest recovery serves as both closure on this specific case and as a reminder of the delicate nature of historical preservation and the legal frameworks set up to protect such artifacts. The recovered coins, minted between 1697 and 1712, will be returned to the rightful custodians, per both state and federal law, but 13 additional coins from this significant treasure remain missing.
