Overview
- Captain Levin Shavers’ crew working for Queens Jewels recovered roughly 1,000 silver reales, five gold escudos and other rare gold pieces during the 2025 salvage season.
- Many coins retain readable dates and mint marks from colonial mints in Mexico, Peru and Bolivia, enhancing their research and collector value.
- The company places the haul’s value at about $1 million, and experts say the condition suggests a single chest or shipment was torn open by the 1715 hurricane.
- Artifacts are entering conservation under state oversight, and Florida can select roughly 20% for public collections before remaining items are allocated under the standing agreements.
- The find comes from the 1715 fleet wrecks off the Treasure Coast, where losses have been historically estimated near $400 million, a region that has also faced prior theft concerns tied to the sites.