Family find $1m in gold treasure on old wreck

A Florida family, who has hunted treasure for years, have discovered more than $1 million worth of gold artefacts from the wreckage of a 1715 Spanish fleet that sank in the Atlantic, according to a salvage company’s estimate.

The find included 51 gold coins of various denominations and 40 feet (12 meters) of ornate gold chain, said Brent Brisben, whose company, 1715 Fleet —Queens Jewels LLC, owns the rights to the wreckage.

The Schmitt family — parents Rick and Lisa and their two children and daughter-in-law — who hunt for treasure off their salvage vessel Aarrr Booty, could not be reached for comment.

Brisben said Rick and Lisa’s 27-year-old son, Eric, found and recovered the pieces in June.

Brisben’s announcement coincides with Friday’s 300th anniversary of the sinking of the 11 galleons by a hurricane off Florida while sailing from Havana to Spain.

Eric Schmitt found the coins in 15 feet of water off Fort Pierce, approximately 130 miles north of Miami.

The Spanish convoy’s manifests indicated the ships carried cargo valued today at about $400 million, of which $175m has been recovered, Brisben said.