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Category: Newsletter

News updates from directors of the 1715 Fleet Society, including stories, images, documents, and more. This is the main news feed for the society.

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Plus Ultra Cover Coins

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The Real Eight Collection
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This Day In Fleet History
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This Day in Fleet History – June 1, 2003

The Half Reale salvage crew finds 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

June 1, 2023 No Comments

June 2023 Treasure of the Month

Our Treasure of the Month for June is this triple dated 1686 silver eight reales coin from the Spanish colonial mint at Potosi. It is rare indeed to find two dates on a Potosi eight

May 31, 2023 No Comments

This Day in Fleet History – May 24, 1964

Mel Fisher finds the “carpet of gold” – 1,033 pieces of gold discovered at the Douglass Beach wreck site.

May 24, 2023 No Comments

Library of Fleet Historian Ernie Richards acquired by Society

The 1715 Fleet Society continues to make a history of its own. On Saturday, May 20, 2023, Society President, Ben Costello, announced the Society’s acquisition of the complete 770-volume library of Ernie “Seascribe” Richards. Ernie,

May 22, 2023 No Comments

This Day in Fleet History — May 16, 2010

Lou Ullian of Merritt Island an original member of the Real Eight Company dies at the age of 78. Read Lou Ullian’s Obituary HERE.

May 16, 2023 No Comments

From the Fleet Society Archives — Summer, 1955

Here are some articles from The Fort Pierce News-Tribune that we found very interesting. Those who are familiar with Kip Wagner’s epic Pieces of Eight published in 1966 recall that in Chapter 7 he relates

May 14, 2023 No Comments

Seamonster Map

Josh “Captain Redbeard” Scott (Follow @redbeardsrelics — instagram.com/redbeardsrelics)Link to Captain Redbeard’s original post on Instagram: instagram.com/p/CkreJzlDc7w/ This exquisite original map of Iceland dates to 1585! Created by etching a copper plate, applying ink, and pressing the

May 13, 2023 No Comments

From the Fleet Society Archives — January, 1962

Coins magazine, a staple of the numismatic community, recently announced that it was ceasing publication after 68 years. The cover of the first issue of Coins in January 1962 had a shipwreck/treasure theme so we

May 13, 2023 No Comments

Real Eight Company - Articles of Incorporation

This Day in Fleet History – May 10, 1961

Articles of Incorporation filed by the Real Eight Company. (The company lasted until 1984 when it was dissolved on November 21 of that year.)

May 10, 2023 No Comments

This Day in Fleet History – May 6, 1715

Ubilla’s New Spain Fleet clears Vera Cruz harbor for a month long sail to Havana.

May 6, 2023 No Comments

Reprint of Volume 1 Now Available

As a follow-up to my post on April 22 (you can read the post HERE), we are happy to announce that the reprint of Volume 1 of Treasures of a Lost Fleet is ready for

May 5, 2023 No Comments

From the Fleet Society Archives — 1964-1965

Here are some very interesting archival images recently donated to the Society by Dave Crooks (member # 7). In Image 1 Kip Wagner, Mel Fisher, and Walt Holzworth are seen examining a group of silver

May 1, 2023 No Comments

This Day in Fleet History – May 1, 1965

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).

May 1, 2023 No Comments

May 2023 Treasure of the Month

Our Treasure of the Month for May is a continuation of our enchantment with encrusted objects (or EO’s) and coin clumps (officially known as “aggregates”). Our featured treasure this month is a clump of approximately

May 1, 2023 No Comments

Reprint of Volume 1 Now Complete

The long-awaited reprint of Volume I of Treasures of a Lost Fleet is now complete. Baker and Taylor Publishers of Ashland, Ohio finished the reprint on April 13. The books will be picked up on April 26

April 22, 2023 1 Comment

Cryptic Object Discovered on Florida Beach

Image: The remnants of a shipwreck seen at Volusia County Beaches near Daytona Beach, Florida. (Facebook/Volusia County Beaches) Here is an interesting article that caught my eye. Near Daytona beachcombers spotted an unusual object. Thought

April 22, 2023 No Comments

From the Fleet Society Archives — December 2, 1965

Here is an article from The Daily Times (Melbourne, Florida) December 2, 1965. (NOTE: Some background to this story is needed. In 1965 then Secretary of State, Tom Adams, attempted to tighten control over Florida

April 18, 2023 No Comments

17th Century French Merchants Scale

Josh “Captain Redbeard” Scott (Follow @redbeardsrelics — instagram.com/redbeardsrelics)Link to Captain Redbeard’s original post on Instagram: instagram.com/p/CjtrZUHDmG8/ Here is something you don’t see every day! Dated to 1673, this set of French merchants’ scales is 100% complete and

April 10, 2023 2 Comments

Fleet Society Member Co-Authors Major Article

Fleet Society member Jeremy Watherston (#145) who resides in Australia recently co-authored a major article on DNA testing of human remains from shipwrecks. Jeremy works in forensic science and operates one of the state’s Forensic

April 8, 2023 No Comments

1715 Fleet Society Website

Greetings. This is Ben Costello, President of the 1715 Fleet Society. Since the launch of our website in 2011 we have made an ongoing effort to keep our it fresh, interesting, and, above all, educational.