Clive Cussler Forum -> Spanish swivel cannon reveals it secrets

Spanish swivel cannon reveals it secrets

Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic

Antipodean Andy

Posted: Jul 24 2010, 08:52 AM

I think I've broken the avatar upload!

Group: CCForum Member
Posts: 1,627
Member No.: 7,204
Joined: 5-January 06

http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southf...19/daily16.html

QUOTE

Shipwreck salvage company Gold Hound LLC has found a bronze cannon with 63 gold and silver coins concealed inside, the company said Monday.

The cannon is part of the 1715 Treasure Fleet that sunk off of Sebastian nearly 300 years ago. Inside were 25 colonial Spanish gold coins and 38 silver coins, but 22 more gold coins were found alongside, according to a news release.

The bronze swivel cannon was used to fend off pirate enemies on the treasure ships' ill-fated journey back to King Philip V in Spain.

The cannon was encrusted from lying hidden in the depths for centuries, and during its conservation, it suddenly let loose its of gold and silver, with an estimated value of more than $500,000, the company said.

"We found treasure within the treasure. This is right out of 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' except this is the real thing,� said Capt. Greg Bounds, of Sebastian-based Gold Hound, in the news release. �For centuries, there has been talk of treasure possibly hidden inside of cannons, but up �til today, that was only pirate lore. Now, it�s the real deal.�

The cannon was discovered in less than 15 feet of water about 40 miles north of West Palm Beach.

Gold Hound is a subcontractor for 1715 Fleet-Queen�s Jewels LLC, which acquired salvage rights to the fleet from the heirs of treasure hunter Mel Fisher. Queens Jewels, also based in Sebastian, was founded by William Brisben, who previously led a national Cincinnati-based real estate development firm before serving seven years as the U.S. representative to UNICEF under President George W. Bush.

Among the gold coins was an extremely rare 1698 Cuzco mint coin from a Peruvian mine that operated for just four months, adding to the importance and value of the coin, the news release said. Historians have struggled for decades to unearth more information about the mine, of which little is known.

The remaining gold coins appear to be primarily from Bogot�, Colombia, referred to as �Bogie 2s� for their denominations, the news release said. The silver coins, subject to further identification, likely originate from mines in Mexico and Bolivia.

The 1715 Fleet received a cargo of several million silver coins in Vera Cruz. Bolivia�s Cerro River in Potosi was the single most prolific silver producer in the world for several hundred years, the release said.

The 1715 Fleet consisted of 11 Spanish galleons and war ships that sank on July 31, 1715, after they left Havana.

The privately held 1715 Fleet-Queen�s Jewels expects that it is closing on a mother lode worth $900 million, including such jewels as a 74-carat emerald, pearls and diamonds, the press release said. The story of the Queen�s jewels has provided basis for movies such as �The Deep� and �Fool�s Gold.�

�These finds are important not just for their value, but their historical importance,� said Brent Brisben, operations manager of 1715 Fleet-Queen�s Jewels.

Helping to uncover the recent finds were Gold Hound crewmembers Chas Francoviglia, Jeff Croy, Tony Gil and Mo Molinar. The treasure-hunting exploits will be detailed in an upcoming book, "A Tale of Two Treasures: The Golden Search for the 1715 Sunken Treasures � Then and Now," by writer Anne Kazel-Wilcox, who is a publicist for Gold Hound.

Some artifacts will end up in the state of Florida�s museum collection.

tonym5	Posted: Jul 24 2010, 02:31 PM
Philosopher, Pirate, Poet, Poseidon & The Admiral Group: CCForum admin Posts: 13,795 Member No.: 23 Joined: 24-February 04	Aye! More treasures being found lately. It's harder and harder holding on to our booty from the grave.

1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)

0 Members:

« Next Oldest | Special Projects | Next Newest »

DealsFor.me - The best sales, coupons, and discounts for you

Choose a user id, register today, and be a part of the world's largest active Cussler forum. no fees

Keep your email address here updated to ensure that you receive breaking news!

mayday the mediterranean caper iceberg raise the titanic vixen 03 night probe pacific vortex deep six cyclops treasure dragon sahara inca gold shock wave the sea hunters flood tide dirk pitt revealed serpent atlantis found blue gold valhalla rising fire ice the sea hunters 2 white death golden buddha trojan odyssey lost city sacred stone black wind dark watch treasure of khan arctic drift polar shift the navigator skeleton coast plague ship vin fizz the chase

clive cussler dirk cussler craig dirgo paul kemprecos dirk pitt al giordino matthew mcconaughey penelope cruz

author sign signing signed rare scarce club fansite fan site tony krome book used books rare book store library nautical maritime ocean sea adventure writing clubs collector's club collector's clubs Collectors clubs cussler's new book forum chat discussion collect cussler collection clive cussler forum ccforum message board

sahara the movie new sahara film crusader productions paramount morocco spain red tide sahara trailer movie trailer sahara preview clive cussler sahara