Gold coin worth US$100,000 found in wreck of Nuestra de Atocha

During a dive in Florida on the wreck of the Nuestra de Atocha, a treasure hunter’s loot was a gold coin worth almost $100,000. A rare gold coin has been found on the sunken Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The vessel resting off the coast of the Florida Keys is described as the world’s

ByTomasz Andrukajtis

Published: July 28, 2021 - 09:00

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 23:00

Gold coin worth US$100,000 found in wreck of Nuestra de Atocha

During a dive in Florida on the wreck of the Nuestra de Atocha, a treasure hunter’s loot was a gold coin worth almost $100,000.

A rare gold coin has been found on the sunken Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha. The vessel resting off the coast of the Florida Keys is described as the world’s most valuable wreck. Since its discovery, many valuable treasures have been excavated at the site and sailed to Europe.

-- Advertisement --

The lucky finder turned out to be Zach Moorewho works as an engineer in a company Mel Fisher’s Treasures. Gold coin fell into his hands on 16 July, during a dive on 16 July he discovered a gold coin at a depth of less than 10 metres. It is the 121st numismatic coin that searchers have found on the wreck and the first since 2001.

Today’s value is estimated to be at least US$98,000, and even more if it comes from a rare mint. This new discovery comes just days before the 36th anniversary of the Nuestra de Atocha discovery in 1985. – reads Mel Fisher’s Treasures blog

When the ship Nuestra de Atocha wrecked in 1622, it was carrying a huge amount of gold, silver, jewels and other New World valuables in its holds. Experts estimated that her cargo was worth around US$400 million.

Like father, like son…

No doubt adding extra flavour to the case is the fact that Zach’s father, Bill, was one of those who discovered the wreck in 1985. In 2014, the Nuestra de Atocha unit was declared by experts to be the most valuable wreck in the world. This is confirmed by the relevant entry, which is in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The numbers certainly speak to the imagination. The ship carried 40 tonnes of gold and silver along with 70 pounds of emeralds. All this precious cargo never reached Spain, however, because in September 1622 a powerful hurricane sealed the fate of the Nuestra de Atocha. Only 5 of the 265 people on board survived the sinking.

In 2011, divers from Mel Fisher’s Treasures retrieved a gold ring with an emerald worth US$500,000 from the wreck.

About author

Tomasz Andrukajtis

Editor-in-chief of the DIVERS24 portal and magazine. Responsible for obtaining, translating and developing content. He also supervises all publications. Achived his first diving certification – P1 CMAS, in 2000. Has a degree in journalism and social communication. In the diving industry since 2008.