This Day in Fleet History – July 14, 1985
The crew of the salvage vessel Defiance finds a large rosary with sixty inches of heavy gold chain. Douglass Beach Wreck site, Fort Pierce, Florida
July 14, 2020
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1715 Fleet Society News Archives
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This Day in Fleet History – July 6, 1993
The crew of the salvage vessel Pandion finds what is believed to be the fabled “Queens Jewels” at the Cabin Wreck site near Sebastian, Florida.
July 7, 2020
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The Research of Stephen M. Workman
The Fleet Society is pleased to introduce our newest member, Stephen M. Workman, Commander, USN (Ret.), of Melbourne, Florida. Following his naval career Commander Workman earned a MA in Maritime History and Nautical Archaeology and a PhD in Coastal Resources Management from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. While at ECU he was a
July 6, 2020
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July 2020 Treasure of the Month
Our featured treasure for July is a small but extremely deadly item used by the Spanish and often found on 1715 Fleet wreck sites. Used in close combat, the split shot was an early form of anti-personnel projectile. Made of lead, the split shot looks like a musket ball that has been cut in half
June 29, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – June 29th, 1968
The Real Eight Museum of Sunken Treasure officially opens in Cape Canaveral at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, 1968.
June 29, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – June 26th, 1967
The Real Eight Company finds a second nearly intact treasure chest containing silver coins at the Cabin Wreck site near Sebastian, Florida.
June 26, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – June 17, 2015
The Tricentennial Royal (dated 1715) and over 50 other gold coins are found by the Schmitt family near Fort Pierce, Florida.
June 17, 2020
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The Passing of Dr. Eugene Lyon
Here is an article written by Fleet Society member Allen Balogh (#37) regarding the recent death of Dr. Eugene Lyon. Many thanks to Allen for sending us this story for posting on our site. Homer’s Twin Brother The Passing of Dr. Eugene Lyon Historian, Scholar, Gentleman By Allen Balogh In 1970, a University of Florida
June 16, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – June 8, 1708
A British captain ambushes a Spanish treasure fleet during the War of Spanish Succession.
June 8, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – June 1st, 2003
The crew of the Half Reale salvage vessel finds an ornate solid gold “jewelry box” containing a seven-emerald gold cross, a large woven gold chain and two gold-and -emerald rings. Cabin Wreck near Sebastian, Florida.
June 4, 2020
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June 2020 Treasure of the Month
Our featured treasure for June does not have all of the eye appeal of past items that we have showcased here. But, nonetheless, this item was critical to the successful construction of ships used in the Spanish fleet system. Nails, pins and spikes made of iron, are often found among the scattered wrecks of the
May 31, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – May 24, 1964
Mel Fisher finds the famous “carpet of gold”…..1,033 gold coins recovered at the Douglass Beach wreck site, Ft. Pierce, Florida.
May 24, 2020
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Whatever happened to………?
Did you ever wonder whatever happened to the Real Eight Museum of Sunken Treasure in Cape Canaveral, Florida? While working on updating The History of the Real Eight Company Through Documents and Letters, I came across this article which was published in September of 1980. It tells the story (a sad one at that) of
May 19, 2020
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10 Years Ago Today
Today marks the 10th anniversary of the passing of my friend and original Real Eight member Lou Ullian. I first met Lou at his home in January 2005. After an hour of pleasant conversation about shipwreck coins I was treated to a wonderful lunch prepared by his wife Helen. From then on visiting Lou and
May 16, 2020
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Sebastian Man Wins Treasure Hunt Title
As I was going through some of my archival material, I came across this interesting newspaper article from May 30, 1962. Since it bore a relationship to the ongoing salvaging efforts of the 1715 Fleet wrecks at the time, I thought that it would make for some interesting reading. It seems that Kip Wagner was
May 13, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – May 12, 1962
The first auction of Real Eight treasure coins is presented by Henry Christensen in Hoboken, New Jersey. Lot #282, a full date 1712 Mexico eight reales, has the distinction of being the first Mexican Real Eight coin ever auctioned.
May 12, 2020
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Iconic Cabin Up For Sale
Anyone who has an interest in the 1715 Fleet and the treasure that it held is familiar with Kip Wagner. Wagner was the man responsible for the organized effort to locate the wreck sites of the Fleet and recover its treasure. His “command post” so to speak, was a small house along the beach which
May 11, 2020
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In Memorium: Dr. Eugene Lyon
It is with deep regret that we report the death of Dr. Eugene Lyon, who passed away last Sunday, May 3, 2020. Dr. Lyon was well known for his research and scholarship in the area of Spanish Colonial Florida and related subjects. He was greatly respected by all who had the opportunity to work with
May 10, 2020
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This Day in Fleet History – May 10, 1961
Articles of Incorporation filed by the Real Eight Company.
May 10, 2020
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Cobb Coin Company vs. The Unidentified, Wrecked and Abandoned Sailing Vessel, etc.(1982)
Finding myself “sheltered in place” for the last 7 weeks has allowed me the rare opportunity to devote many uninterrupted hours to reviewing archival material that I have gathered over the years. I have always dreamed of having the time to do that and, with the unfortunate circumstances of the pandemic, I now have that
May 6, 2020
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