Image: One of the fifty-plus donated artifacts given to the state. The 1715 Treasure Fleet
By WQCS
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — More than 50 worked silver artifacts recovered from the site of a 1715 Spanish treasure fleet shipwreck have been donated to the State of Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, according to an announcement from the 1715 Fleet Society and society member Richard Beleson.
The donation includes the remaining silver pieces recovered by Mike Perna and the crew of the Mighty Mo during the 2021 dive season. The state had previously received seven artifacts as part of its share from that year’s recovery.
The artifacts were found at what is known as the Anchor WreckLocated near Wabasso Beach about 8 miles south of Sebastian Inlet. It is the wreck site of “The Roberts” a ship that sank in a hurricane in 1810. More, where the items were concentrated in a relatively small area. That pattern suggests they likely came from a wooden chest that deteriorated over time, said Capt. John Brandon, a longtime historical shipwreck salvor who at the time of the discovery served as operations manager for 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC.
Read the full article on WQCS:
https://www.wqcs.org/wqcs-news/2026-01-08/historic-1715-fleet-artifacts-donated-to-florida-for-preservation
