Historic Photos of 1715 Fleet Salvage Operations

These photographs were recently acquired from a private collection. Some of the photographs are being presented publicly for the first time. Due to age and storage several are distressed and had to be digitally enhanced. Each photograph has a hand written narrative on the back. That narrative is set forth under each picture presented below.

Pieces-of-eight chest being brought up. From left to right: Tom Gore (State of Florida), Bob Johnson and John de Bry. Cabin Wreck (1968)

Del Long and crew inspecting treasure chest contents aboard "Derelict" (1968) — Del Long and crew inspecting treasure chest contents aboard “Derelict” (1968)

Diver Tom Massa on the "Derelict", Cabin Wreck (1968) — Diver Tom Massa on the “Derelict”, Cabin Wreck (1968)

Diver Terry Armstrong on the "Derelict" off the Cabin Wreck, Sebastian, Florida (1968) — Diver Terry Armstrong on the “Derelict” off the Cabin Wreck, Sebastian, Florida (1968)

Silver coins, Cabin Wreck, Sebastian, Florida (1968)

Silver coins, Silver fork an gold link from rosary Cabin Wreck, Sebastian, Florida (1968)

John de Bry (left) and Jim Shubert aboard the "Derelict" on the Cabin Wreck with silver coins and copper ingots (1968) — John de Bry (left) and Jim Shubert aboard the “Derelict” on the Cabin Wreck with silver coins and copper ingots (1968)

John de Bry aboard the "Derelict" with his first major find now in the McLarty Museum, Sebastian Beach, Florida. (1968) — John de Bry aboard the “Derelict” with his first major find now in the McLarty Museum, Sebastian Beach, Florida. (1968)

John de Bry with his find of silver coins and pestel Cabin Wreck (1968)

John de Bry aboard the "Griffon" Rio Mar wreck, Vero Beach ,Florida (1969) — John de Bry aboard the “Griffon” Rio Mar wreck, Vero Beach ,Florida (1969)

Mo Molinar and John de Bry's gold find including 1 Royal Eight Escudo on Douglas Beach, Gold Wreck, Ft. Pierce, Florida (1987) — Mo Molinar and John de Bry’s gold find including 1 Royal Eight Escudo on Douglas Beach, Gold Wreck, Ft. Pierce, Florida (1987)

Display of gold coins found on Douglas Beach (1987)

Harold Holden with chain and reliquary. Mo Molinar with 110 gold eight escudos (109 Lima, 1 Mexico), found on Gold Wreck near Douglas Beach, Ft. Pierce, Florida (1988).

Mo Molinar and Lou Ullian inspecting gold coins from the 1988 season. These coins were found on the Gold Wreck near Douglas Beach, Ft. Pierce, Florida. Total haul 821 gold coins plus jewelry, 1988.

Posted in Photo Archives

Craig Grella

Craig Grella is a digital marketer who has designed and developed more than 400 websites for businesses, nonprofits, and governments. He has an engineering degree from Lehigh University. He also enjoys watching Yankees baseball, playing guitar, and riding motorcycles, though not at the same time - that would be dangerous.

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