News updates from directors of the 1715 Fleet Society, including stories, images, documents, and more. This is the main news feed for the society.
While researching Real Eight Company documents acquired from Dan Thompson (one of the original members of that company) I found this interesting article from the September 1976 edition of “Treasure Magazine”. It appears that 16 gold bars were unearthed at a construction site at Fernandina Beach in April of 1976. The bars were subsequently sent
Recently I was contacted by Fleet Society member Dale Justice (membership #103) regarding an interesting item he found just north of Vero Beach. Dale is an accomplished beach hunter who has hunted area beaches for many years looking for relics that might be revealed after a strong storm. In December of 2020 he was searching
Work is progressing rapidly on the Real Eight Museum of Sunken Treasure near the Cape Kennedy Hilton, City of Cape Canaveral. The Museum, set to open by mid year, will house displays of Spanish treasure recovered by the group from the ocean floor off of the east coast (From the Orlando Sentinel).
The Real Eight Company makes its first significant recovery of Spanish silver coins at the Cabin Wreck site near Sebastian, Florida.
Happy New Year 2021! On Behalf of myself and the other Directors of the 1715 Fleet Society, I would like to wish everyone a Happy (and prosperous) New Year. It goes without saying that 2020 was an unprecedented year. The virus caught everyone by surprise, us included. What started out as a year with so
We begin the new year with our Treasure of the Month for January, this pair of earrings from the famous “Queen’s Jewels” find of 1993. What were the “Queen’s Jewels”? Well, here is the story. In 1714 Maria Louisa of Savoy, wife of King Philip V of Spain, died. Seven months later in September 1714
Cabinet officials, stung by reports that the state may not be getting its rightful share of treasure recovered from Florida waters, considers taking over all salvage operations and keeping (rather than sharing) all treasure found. This consideration would be tantamount to the state going into the treasure hunting business.
On behalf of myself and the other Directors of the Fleet Society, we would like to wish all of our members, supporters and website visitors a very Merry Christmas. Ben Costello, Director.
National Geographic Society exhibits Spanish gold and silver from the 1715 Fleet. Explorers Hall, Washington, D.C.
Hans Schulman has its last Real Eight Company auction. 253 lots of Fleet coins are offered, 102 of which are gold. New York City.
Even though our Treasure of the Month for December has been out of production for over 50 years, it still makes a very nice gift. In fact it was a gift presented to me recently by Fleet Society member Frank Noga (Membership #1). It was such a nice present that I felt that it deserved
Greetings. One of my designated duties as a Director of the 1715 Fleet Society is managing website content. Over the last nine years since our website was launched, I have attempted to provide interesting subject matter for our Fleet Society members and website visitors. For instance, we have regular features like our Treasure of the
Out of the 2016 F.U.N. Coin Convention —this year held in Tampa, FL— comes this very interesting 8-reales piece. One of 70-some eights and fours which arrived at the FUN Show for sale … with links to Real-8 founder, Kip Wagner (see page-6) … this piece-of-eight is extremely appreciated by its new owner, Ben Costello of Washington, PA. It
The “mother load” sale of Fleet gold, 878 gold coins, sold by Hans Schulman at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York. Among the coins sold were six Royals from the 1715 Fleet.
Real Eight Company is dissolved after 23 years.
Recently, we received a note from Fleet Society member, Augi Garcia (Membership # 3) informing us that there will be several educational presentations on Monday, November 16, 2020 at 3:00 pm EST in advance of a major auction to be held the following day by Daniel Frank Sedwick, LLC. One of the three featured speakers
Today is the 320th anniversary of the death of Charles II (1665-1700) the last Hapsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. His death is of particular interest to scholars and aficionados of the 1715 Fleet. It was his death that sparked the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). The Fleet of 1715 was indirectly related to this
November’s featured treasure is one of the rarest and coveted items ever recovered from the wreck sites of the 1715 Fleet—a gold Royal. Specifically, in this case, a 1713 eight escudos Royal from the Spanish colonial mint at Mexico City. So what makes this coin so desirable? Well, first and foremost, is its beauty. Nearly
“Pieces of Eight”, the legendary book written about the Real Eight Company by its founder Kip Wagner, goes into publication.
The first public auction of gold coins recovered from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks off the coast of Florida by the Real Eight Company. Some of the best condition specimens were offered for sale. The coins are sold through the auction house of Henry Christianson, Hoboken, New Jersey.
