On this day, 55 years ago, a team of Real Eight Company divers working at the Cabin Wreck site near Sebastian Florida find a nearly intact treasure chest containing silver coins. This is the second such chest found. Previously, a similar chest was found at the same site in July, 1965.
On Saturday, February 21, 1970 this story appeared in the Florida Today section of the Tampa Tribune News. Members of the Real Eight Company cautioned buyers of Spanish treasure fleet coins to be aware of counterfeits that were being sold as genuine treasure coins. Counterfeiters make copies of silver coins called “cobs” because they are easy to …
The Tricentennial Royal and over 50 other gold coins are found by the Schmitt family near Fort Pierce, Florida.
While searching through some archival documents the other day I came across a newspaper article from the Orlando Sentinel dated June 5, 1967. It reports that the Real 8 Company opened its 1967 salvage season with typical gusto. The company reportedly sold an eight escudos gold Royal dated 1702 for an astounding $10,500.00. (NOTE: The …
British Captain Charles Wagers ambushes a Spanish Treasure Fleet near Cartagena during the War of Spanish Succession. Sunk in the battle was the San Jose which was laden with gold, silver and precious gems which was to be used by the Spanish government to finance the war. The San Jose was found in November, 2015 …
The Half Reale salvage crew find an ornate solid gold “jewelry box” containing a seven-emerald gold cross, a large woven chain and two gold-and-emerald rings. Found at the Cabin Wreck site near Sebastian, Florida. (The cross was auctioned at Guernsey’s of New York as part of the “Mel & Deo Fisher Collection” in August, 2015).
Our Treasure of the Month for June is this denomination set of Mexico City, Mexico, 8-4-2-1 silver reales, housed in a 8 ¾ “ x 3 ½” promotional wooden box. The box, made of walnut, has a large antique colored brass plaque on the front which reads: “Original Silver Cob Coins Recovered from the Spanish …
Recently I attended the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists Spring Show in Pittsburgh. There I was able to welcome a new Fleet Society member. Meet Bob Hurst from Vero Beach, Florida. Bob is a coin dealer who specializes in Ancient, Foreign and U.S. Coins. He also happens to be President of the Florida United Numismatists (FUN). …
Mel Fisher finds the “carpet of gold” – 1,033 pieces of gold discovered at the Douglass Beach wreck site.
Articles of Incorporation filed by the Real Eight Company. (The company lasted until 1984 when it was dissolved on November 21 of that year)
Ubilla’s New Spain Fleet clears Vera Cruz harbor for a month long sail to Havana.
The Real Eight Company opens its first museum, “The Gallery of Spanish Treasure”, in Satellite Beach, Florida. (An invitation only private opening was held the night before).
Our passion for EOs (encrusted objects) continues with our Treasure of the Month for May. In the past we have featured numerous EOs, including silver wedges, individual coins, coin clumps (or aggregates), and non-coin-related items (like a sword and a copper disk). This month we have somewhat of a mystery object. Weighing about six pounds, …
Recently (March 21 to be exact) we posted a story about our then latest member Jeremy Watherston who was our first Fleet Society member from Australia. A few weeks later I had the chance to talk to Jeremy on the phone via an international connection. (NOTE: Due to the time difference between Australia and the …
The Treaty of Utrecht formally concludes hostilities between Spain and Great Britain during the War of Spanish Succession. As a result, Spain’s treasure fleets were able to sail again.
I will bet that there are a fair number of Fleet Society members out there who do not know about our time capsule. “What time capsule?”, you might ask. Well, for those of you who might not know the history behind our time capsule, here it is. Beginning in 2008, the Society started planning for …
As we mentioned on March 29, the Society will be revealing for the first time important new original research conducted by Advisory Board member Jorge Proctor. The final draft of that research is being reviewed and will be submitted for publication this month. As previously stated, this research has to do with the location of certain …
Our featured treasure for April is this double dated 1710 eight escudos from the Spanish colonial mint in Lima, Peru. As can be seen in the image a double dated coin contains two dates, one located in the bottom half of the coin and the second in the legend of the coin (at the 10:00 …
As expressed on our website, the mission of the 1715 Fleet Society is to research the history of the 1715 Fleet, its loss, rediscovery and recovery. In keeping with this mission, Fleet Society member Jorge Proctor, who also sits on our Advisory Board, has just completed five years of original research on Fleet wreck sites. …
Important New Fleet Research Soon to be Revealed Read More »
One of our goals here at the Fleet Society is to expand our membership far and wide. Until recently we had 144 members from 24 US states and, in addition, Canada (Nova Scotia), Puerto Rico (an unincorporated US Territory) and the Cayman Islands (a self-governing British Oversees Territory). In January, we added Spain to our …
