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Divers Uncover $100K Silver Bar from Sunken Galleon
20 Jun
Summary
- A 22-pound silver bar from the Atocha shipwreck was recently found.
- The artifact is valued at approximately $100,000.
- The Spanish galleon sank in a hurricane in 1622.
Divers exploring the waters off the Florida Keys have recovered a significant treasure: a 22-pound silver bar originating from the famed Atocha shipwreck. This artifact spent more than four centuries underwater after the Spanish galleon met its fate in a hurricane in 1622.
The recovered silver bar is estimated to be worth approximately $100,000. It was discovered by members of Mel Fisher's Shipwreck Expeditions, an organization dedicated to recovering artifacts from the wreck site. Lead diver Blake Baker described the find as occurring on their final dive of the day.
Captain Drake Nicholas noted that the silver bar was located deeper than many other signals detected. After initial examination, markings consistent with a silver bar were observed. The artifact, encrusted over centuries, will undergo laboratory analysis to fully document its history.
Sean Browne of Mel Fisher's Shipwreck Expeditions provided the valuation and noted that the piece would likely be preserved due to its historical importance rather than being melted down. Discoveries from the Atocha site are typically shared among expedition investors and the Fisher family.
