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Historic find in Florida: Silver ingot from famous 400-year-old shipwreck galleon discovered
🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

Historic find in Florida: Silver ingot from famous 400-year-old shipwreck galleon discovered

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A 22-pound silver ingot from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which sank 400 years ago, was recovered in Florida.
  • This is the first Atocha silver ingot found by Mel Fisher's team since 1999, valued at approximately $100,000.
  • The discovery was made during a dive in the Florida Keys, where the team detected multiple metal signals.

A significant historical artifact has been recovered from the depths off the Florida Keys: a 22-pound (nearly 10 kilograms) silver ingot from the famed Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The discovery, made on June 11, marks the first time Mel Fisher's shipwreck expedition team has found an Atocha silver ingot since 1999.

it was almost 7 p.m. when the discovery was made.

— Blake BakerThe head of the diving team for Mel Fisher’s Shipwreck Expeditions described the timing of the silver ingot's recovery.

The ingot, which lay submerged for over four centuries, was covered in marine encrustations. Its estimated value is $100,000. The find occurred during the final dive of the day in an area where divers had detected numerous metallic signals. Blake Baker, head of the diving team for Mel Fisher’s Shipwreck Expeditions, recounted that the discovery happened around 7 p.m.

the silver bar was deeper than other points investigated in the area.

— Drake NicholasThe captain of the rescue vessel DARE detailed the location where the silver ingot was found.

Drake Nicholas, captain of the rescue vessel DARE, was credited with locating the object. While exploring a sector with strong metal readings, Nicholas found the ingot deeper than other investigated points. He initially tapped the object with a knife, observing characteristic marks consistent with a silver bar, though he admitted he didn't immediately believe it due to the extensive marine growth.

he tapped the object with a knife and observed characteristic marks compatible with a silver bar.

— Drake NicholasThe captain described the initial steps taken to identify the recovered object.

Sean Browne, a member of the expedition, stated that laboratory analysis will help document the ingot's characteristics and conservation status. Treasures recovered from such expeditions are typically shared among project investors and then with the Fisher family. The Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank in a hurricane in 1622, carrying a valuable cargo, and its location remained a mystery for over 300 years until Mel Fisher began his persistent search in 1969.

its estimated value is $100,000.

— Sean BrowneA member of the expedition provided an estimated monetary value for the recovered silver ingot.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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