Treasures From the Deep: Remarkable Shipwreck Artifacts

Trash became treasure when eleven Spanish ships were overtaken by a hurricane off the coast of Florida over 300 years ago. The ships were homebound to Spain to deliver treasures equaling 14 million pesos acquired from the then-colonies in Cuba, including precious gems, gold, silver, coins, and jewelry.

They were tasked with acquiring these precious goods for the Spanish Empire, which sought these materials to help address economic hardships caused by costly wars and financial mismanagement. But as the fleet set off on the Atlantic seas from Cuba, Spain would never receive those treasures. Rather, it was the eastern coast of Florida that would be the final destination.

As the fleet headed homebound to Spain, the waves swelled into large surges, with violent winds tossing the ships, and the warm Atlantic waters acting as fuel for the fierce and deadly storm. When it was all settled, there were few survivors, and those treasures were scattered, alongside parts of the ship, across the seafloor.

This devastating loss for the Spanish has proved to be a gain for treasure divers and hunters. Nicknamed "The Treasure Coast," this 40-mile area spans Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties, and to this day, those once-lost precious items are being found near the region’s coastline.

The first major discovery of what is referred to today as the 1715 Fleet was in 1961 by treasure hunter and diver Kip Wagner (1906–1972). For years, Wagner found gold, silver, and more that totaled millions of dollars and even wrote a related book, Pieces of Eight (Recovering the Riches of a Lost Spanish Fleet).

More treasure hunters followed suit, including the famous Mel Fisher (1922–1998), who began his decades-long career with the 1715 Fleet. Fisher is best known for his 1980s discovery of the 1622 wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which was also sunk by a hurricane, but miles away from the 1715 Fleet in the Florida Keys. Fisher and his diving team uncovered a swath of goods, like precious metals (silver and gold) and gems, with daily vices like tobacco and indigo that were all taken from the Spanish ports in New Granada (Colombia, Panama) and Cuba for Spanish gain.

Thanks to the efforts of Wagner and Fisher, the Spanish shipwrecks on the Treasure Coast of Florida are known for the jewels, gold, and silver left behind. But for many shipwreck collectors and experts, what inspires them isn’t always these shiny objects. Often it is anything that can be found from the wreckage: weapons, furniture, ship parts, and even coal.

Many of these items are prized for their place in history, serving as remnants of an often-tragic moment in the past. Dishware from the Titanic illustrates the formality and sense of society on the ill-fated ship, while wreckage from a warship gives a better understanding of military weapons and warfare used in battle. Even the gold found on the ships of the 1715 fleet offers some form of reflection, as many coins were products of Spanish colonial influence and pieces like a gold chain belt were a method to store personal wealth upon one’s body while traveling.

These artifacts hold much importance to many people and organizations. As enticing as discovering a gold coin, or many, on the seafloor can be, full ownership of these items isn’t always given to the finders. On April 28, 1988, Ronald Reagan signed into law the Abandoned Shipwreck Act. It was made to ensure the protection of historic ships across the United States by giving ownership rights to the states in which the local waters house wreck sites, ultimately protecting these historic items from the private market and preventing harmful archaeological excavations. When a treasure hunter discovers a pile of booty, like in the state of Florida, the find must be reported, as the goods are state property. Finders usually receive a percentage of the find for personal ownership, while the rest goes to the state. If the finder of the treasure chooses not to report, it can cost them fines and potentially federal charges as punishment. In addition to the Abandoned Shipwreck Act, the Sunken Military Craft Act was enacted in 2004 to ensure that all U.S. and foreign military craft in U.S. waters are protected and treated as active war graves.

Findings of these fallen wrecks have also inspired organizations founded in their honor. The nonprofit 1715 Fleet was established as a dedication to the history of the iconic shipwrecks and their preservation. Among its activities is promoting community for amateur and expert researchers of the fleet, sharing related news, and showing collections of the items found from the wreckage on its website.

Another nonprofit, the National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), is a volunteer-run foundation created by novelist and underwater explorer Clive Cussler (1931–2020). Named after a fictional U.S. government organization in Cussler’s novel, NUMA was created as a real-life organization with the mission to preserve maritime heritage. Through its promotion of conservation and archeological survey of shipwrecks, NUMA has contributed to the locating and uncovering of a vast range of sites, including many American Civil War boats. Other resources dedicated to preservation and historical efforts also include the Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, the Northwest Shipwreck Alliance, and Wrecksite, a website that acts as the world’s largest online wreck database.

A vast selection of shipwreck artifacts is held and on display at museums across the world and has become a popular destination for tourists. Among the offerings is the Mel Fisher Museum in Key West, which displays the findings of the treasure hunter and his company, including items from the Atocha and Santa Margarita wrecks. Across the United States is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Paradise, Michigan, which houses the Whitefish Point Light Station and Light Tower, alongside relics from Great Lakes wrecks. Notable international locales include the Vasamuseet in Stockholm, which displays a preserved 17th-century Swedish warship that sank in 1628. The UK’s Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth owns a Henry VIII warship and related objects, while the Titanic Belfast in Belfast tells the story of the iconic wreck. The Western Australian Maritime Museum in Fremantle, Australia, collects artifacts from multiple wrecks, including one from the World War II submarine HMAS Ovens.

Depending on the object’s origin and type, its current value can be much more than the original worth and soar into the millions. Because of this, shipwreck artifacts have become a prominent category for auction houses, antique dealers, and retailers, with some solely dedicating their business to the wreckage goods.

Sedwick & Associates, based in Maitland, Florida, specializes in Spanish and Latin American wreckage numismatics and related items from throughout the world, touting having sold some of the most important shipwreck treasures. Among the recently sold at the auction house was a circa 1628 Mexican cob 8 reales from the Lucayan Beach Wreck that was sold for $700. It was later mounted shield-side out in a silver bezel and chain from the 1960s.

Wrecks outside of Spanish influence have also garnered attention from bidders and the press. Decadent goods like two 350-year-old wine bottles from a 17th-century German shipwreck were sold by Christie’s London in 2019. A 19th-century shawl belonging to Grace Darling was sold by Anderson & Garland in October 2025 for £820. Darling is remembered for her heroism in 1838 for helping survivors of the SS Forfarshire that sank off the coast of Northumberland.

Items from the Titanic always sell well. The highest-selling item from the ship’s found wreckage is an 18-carat gold pocket watch that belonged to first-class passenger and co-owner of Macy’s Department Store Isidor Straus, which sold for $1.78 million at Henry Aldridge & Son Auctioneers.

Even coal from a shipwreck has garnered sales for an auction house. Salvaged from the Titanic during an expedition in 1994, the 1.6 ounces of coal from the Shipwreck Treasure Museum in Cornwall, England, went for sale in a November 2024 auction hosted by Lay’s Auctioneers. Although broken into pieces, the coal went above its estimated range of between £500 and £800 for a winning bid of £1,500.

With all considering, it seems a ship’s trash really can be someone’s treasure.

More treasures from the deep:

Freeman’s Achieves Over $1.2 Million with Sale of RMS Titanic Artifacts Belonging to John Jacob Astor IV

The Legend of Larder Lake is Solved? We’ll Drink to That!

Lake Michigan Treasure Hunters Spurred by Gold and Whiskey