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24HourForums.com > Supported Forums > Lord Marcovan's Treasure Territory > shipwreck treasure yields 17 tons of colonial-era coins |
| Moderated by: Lord Marcovan | Page: 1 2 3 |
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Lady Cop Pioneer100© Member
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Posted: 02:06 pm |
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Shipwrecked treasure ship yields historic riches POSTED: 7:42 a.m. EDT, May 18, 2007 Story Highlights• 17 tons of colonial-era coins worth $500 million, Odyssey Marine Exploration says • Salvage project "Black Swan" in Atlantic Ocean cloaked in secrecy • Court records show coins might be from a 400-year-old ship found off England • "Unprecedented" find from colonial era, rare coin expert says TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- Deep-sea explorers said Friday they have mined what could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, bringing home 17 tons of colonial-era silver and gold coins from an undisclosed site in the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated value: $500 million. A jet chartered by Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration landed in the United States recently with hundreds of plastic containers brimming with coins raised from the ocean floor, Odyssey co-chairman Greg Stemm said. The more than 500,000 pieces are expected to fetch an average of $1,000 each from collectors and investors. "For this colonial era, I think (the find) is unprecedented," said rare coin expert Nick Bruyer, who examined a batch of coins from the wreck. "I don't know of anything equal or comparable to it." Citing security concerns, the company declined to release any details about the ship or the wreck site Friday. Stemm said a formal announcement will come later, but court records indicate the coins might come from a 400-year-old ship found off England. Because the shipwreck was found in a lane where many colonial-era vessels went down, there is still some uncertainty about its nationality, size and age, Stemm said, although evidence points to a specific known shipwreck. The site is beyond the territorial waters or legal jurisdiction of any country, he said. "Rather than a shout of glee, it's more being able to exhale for the first time in a long time," Stemm said of the haul, by far the biggest in Odyssey's 13-year history. He wouldn't say if the loot was taken from the same wreck site near the English Channel that Odyssey recently petitioned a federal court for permission to salvage. In seeking exclusive rights to that site, an Odyssey attorney told a federal judge last fall that the company likely had found the remains of a 17th-century merchant vessel that sank with valuable cargo aboard, about 40 miles off the southwestern tip of England. A judge signed an order granting those rights last month. In keeping with the secretive nature of the project dubbed "Black Swan," Odyssey also isn't talking yet about the types, denominations and country of origin of the coins. Bruyer said he observed a wide range of varieties and dates of likely uncirculated currency in much better condition than artifacts yielded by most shipwrecks of a similar age. The Black Swan coins -- mostly silver pieces -- likely will fetch several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars each, with some possibly commanding much more, he said. Value is determined by rarity, condition and the story behind them. Controlled release of the coins into the market along with their expected high value to collectors likely will keep prices at a premium, he said. The richest ever shipwreck haul was yielded by the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. Treasure-hunting pioneer Mel Fisher found it in 1985, retrieving a reported $400 million in coins and other loot. Odyssey likely will return to the same spot for more coins and artifacts. "We have treated this site with kid gloves and the archaeological work done by our team out there is unsurpassed," Odyssey CEO John Morris said. "We are thoroughly documenting and recording the site, which we believe will have immense historical significance." The news is timely for Odyssey, the only publicly traded company of its kind. The company salvaged more than 50,000 coins and other artifacts from the wreck of the SS Republic off Savannah, Georgia, in 2003, making millions. But Odyssey posted losses in 2005 and 2006 while using its expensive, state-of-the-art ships and deep-water robotic equipment to hunt for the next mother lode. "The outside world now understands that what we do is a real business and is repeatable and not just a lucky one shot deal," Stemm said. "I don't know of anybody else who has hit more than one economically significant shipwreck." In January, Odyssey won permission from the Spanish government to resume a suspended search for the wreck of the HMS Sussex, which was leading a British fleet into the Mediterranean Sea for a war against France in 1694 when it sank in a storm off Gibraltar. Historians believe the 157-foot warship was carrying nine tons of gold coins to buy the loyalty of the Duke of Savoy, a potential ally in southeastern France. Odyssey believes those coins could also fetch more than $500 million. But under the terms of a historic agreement Odyssey will have to share any finds with the British government. The company will get 80 percent of the first $45 million and about 50 percent of the proceeds thereafter.
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24HourNut Administrator Body pillows rock!
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Posted: 02:11 pm |
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Wow, what a find!!!
![]() The best human beings start good new topics and vote on the better posts. |
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Lady Cop Pioneer100© Member
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Posted: 02:14 pm |
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Odyssey co-founder Greg Stemm, left, looks at coins recovered from the "Black Swan" shipwreck with an unidentified member of the conservation team on Thursday. i knew all you collectors would be drooling! Last edited on 02:15 pm by Lady Cop ![]() ![]() |
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24HourNut Administrator Body pillows rock!
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Posted: 02:20 pm |
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Wow, those look like big silver dollars.
![]() The best human beings start good new topics and vote on the better posts. |
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epoch Original500© Member
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Posted: 02:29 pm |
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that may put some heads in a spin as far as market rarity and availability.
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Lady Cop Pioneer100© Member
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Posted: 02:35 pm |
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this thing is bigger than the Atocha, i would like to know more about the ship's history.
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shirohniichan Original500© Member Obscurius per obscurum
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Posted: 06:58 pm |
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Lady Cop wrote:
I wonder what percentage of the coins are Spanish colonial 8 reales. They were the most popular silver trade coins of the day. Since gold was mentioned, I imagine there are some 8 escudos in there, also. The breakdown in date, denomination, mintmark, and condition should be fascinating to see.
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24HourNut Administrator Body pillows rock!
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Posted: 07:00 pm |
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Look at all the white containers behind them, too.
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Lady Cop Pioneer100© Member
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Posted: 09:11 pm |
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Record shipwreck 'found off Cornwall' US firm claims to have recovered 500,000 gold and silver coins from secret site. a little more info from the UK Telegraph.
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sumnom Original500© Member
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Posted: 11:33 pm |
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Man, what is this going to do to the coin markets? It might mean more coins from this period become more affordable to more people. When an enormous hoard of Koryo dynasty coins was unearthed in Kaesong, North Korea, the prices for the once rare Koryo cast coins fell through the floor, enabling me to collect them!
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Mr Lee Original500© Member '52 Cruiser
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Posted: 04:56 am |
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"Controlled release of the coins into the market along with their expected high value to collectors likely will keep prices at a premium, he said." The prices will remain high for awhile but will drop enventually. There's way too many of them.
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JustifiedByFaith Pioneer100© Member Jesus...above every other name
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Posted: 04:57 am |
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Mr Lee wrote: "Controlled release of the coins into the market along with their expected high value to collectors likely will keep prices at a premium, he said." What an incredible find. They were not Morgans were they? A lot earlier right?
![]() Jesus said, "Take heed that no one deceives you." Matthew 24:4 |
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CARLA Original500© Member Aloha San Diego is Paradise.!!
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Posted: 02:34 pm |
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I juest need a few thats all and I can retire early.
![]() Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up worn out screaming what a ride.. |
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24HourNut Administrator Body pillows rock!
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Posted: 05:49 pm |
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JBF, way before Morgans. Those found coins are from the 1600s I believe.
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Lady Cop Pioneer100© Member
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Posted: 04:12 am |
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Spain is now claiming ownership of the coins. this is going to be in the courts for about 73 years!
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24HourForums.com > Supported Forums > Lord Marcovan's Treasure Territory > shipwreck treasure yields 17 tons of colonial-era coins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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