As Finest Known Treasure Talk with Bob Evans continues to share stories of history’s greatest treasures, we are excited to broaden the series with contributions from respected experts throughout the treasure community. It is a genuine pleasure to introduce this inaugural feature by my friend and esteemed colleague, Ben Costello, President of the 1715 Fleet Society. Ben’s enthusiasm for the 1715 Fleet, combined with years of dedicated research and collecting, shines through in his writing. I hope you’ll enjoy the first chapter of his journey into one of history’s most captivating treasure stories. I’m honored to share Ben’s work with our readers and look forward to the chapters ahead.
-Adam Crum, President, Finest Known
The 1715 Fleet Society
By Ben Costello, President, 1715 Fleet Society
My first encounter with the 1715 Fleet came in January 2004. I had only recently begun collecting shipwreck coins. As a lifelong student of history, I found the idea of owning coins that had rested on the ocean floor for centuries irresistible. I explored coins from several famous wrecks, but I had yet to discover a true collecting passion.
That changed the day an auction catalog arrived in the mail.
On its cover were two of the most beautiful gold coins I had ever seen. I was immediately captivated. I had to know their story, where they had come from, and why they had survived. Those questions led me to the 1715 Fleet.
Before the auction, I immersed myself in everything I could find about the Fleet and its tragic loss. I learned that the two featured coins had been struck at different Spanish colonial mints, one in Mexico City in 1714, the other in Lima, Peru, in 1712. The more I learned, the more I realized the 1715 Fleet represented everything I loved: history, adventure, tragedy, romance, and, of course, treasure.
I also knew I had to own those coins.
Read the full article on Finest Known:
https://finestknown.com/chapter-one-a-chance-encounter-with-history/
