Spain to share treasure taken from Odyssey Marine Exploration

Spanish Queen Sofia will visit Bolivia’s capital La Paz. During her stay, she will meet with President Evo Morales to agree on the further fate of the coins, which were taken away from treasure hunters from Odyssey Marine Exploration not so long ago.

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The reason? The origin of the coins constituting the treasure. This is because they were largely mined and minted, from metals obtained in Potosi Cerro Rico. The meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday. The Queen’s visit is expected to facilitate a rapid agreement that would satisfy both sides.

The official initialling of the document will be done by the Secretary of the International Cooperation Agency of Spain, Jesus Garcia, and the Minister of Culture from the Bolivian side, Pablo Groux.

In 2007 the American treasure hunting company Odyssey excavated more than 600 coins from the wreck of a vessel sunk in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Without specifying exactly where the coins came from, it transported them to the USA.

The Spanish were quick to react to the situation and took legal action for the return of the treasure. They documented their claim that the find came from the wreck of the vessel Nuestra Senora de la Mercedes. The ship in question was sunk by the English on 4 October 1804 near the Portuguese coast.

Despite the attempts and efforts made by treasure hunters, an American court has ordered the complete return of Spain’s treasure. In February this year, the treasure was transported by air to the Iberian Peninsula.

Source: treasureworks.com Photo: Odyssey Marine Exploration