Florida authorities recover stolen gold coins linked to 1715 Treasure Fleet

Florida authorities announced the recovery of several centuries-old gold coins that were stolen in 2015, linked to the infamous 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) declared the recovery in a news release, describing it as a "major milestone in a long-standing investigation into the theft and illegal trafficking of these priceless historical artifacts," according to Fox News.

The recovered coins, worth a combined $1 million, are part of a trove of gold coins discovered in 2015 by the Schmitt family, who were contracted by 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC for salvage operations. While 51 coins were reported and awarded correctly, 50 coins were not disclosed and were subsequently stolen, as reported by CBS News.

Following new evidence obtained in June, investigators initiated an in-depth probe linking Eric Schmitt to the illegal sale of multiple stolen gold coins between 2023 and 2024. According to CBS News, Schmitt has been charged with dealing with stolen property and trafficking in stolen property related to the unlawful sale of these coins.

Authorities executed multiple search warrants, recovering coins that had been stolen between 2023 and 2024 from private residences, safe deposit boxes, and auctions. Five stolen coins were reclaimed from a Florida-based auctioneer who had unknowingly purchased them from Schmitt, as reported by The Independent. The FWC expressed its commitment to recover the remaining thirteen stolen coins and to "bring to justice those involved in their illegal sale."

"This case underscores the importance of safeguarding Florida's rich cultural heritage and holding accountable those who seek to profit from its exploitation," stated FWC Investigator Camille Soverel, as reported by CBS News. The FWC utilized advanced digital forensics to identify metadata and geolocation data linking Eric Schmitt to photographs of the stolen coins taken at the Schmitt family condominium in Fort Pierce, according to The Independent.

The coins recovered are part of the treasure from the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, a convoy of 11 galleons that set sail from Havana, Cuba, loaded with riches from the New World. The fleet sank during a hurricane off Florida's Treasure Coast in July 1715, causing its treasure to sink to the bottom of the ocean. The shipwreck gave Florida's Treasure Coast its name, and the area has been the site of treasure hunting for centuries.

The Schmitt family, operating under their business Booty Salvage, worked as subcontracted salvage operators for 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC. In July 2015, they discovered a treasure trove of 101 gold coins while searching in shallow waters off the coast of Fort Pierce. Eric Schmitt told CBS News at the time, "The more we do this, the bigger the finds we make, so I kind of less believe in luck and more believe in our hard work."

The FWC worked with historical preservation experts, including Mel Fisher-Abt, to authenticate and appraise the recovered artifacts. The gold coins had been minted in Lima, Peru, between 1697 and 1712, and are considered invaluable pieces of history, as reported by CBS News.

"It was also discovered that Eric Schmitt took three of the stolen gold coins and placed them on the ocean floor in 2016 so that the new investors of 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels would find them," FWC added.

At least 1,000 sailors died in the shipwreck of the galleons of the Treasure Fleet. It was transporting massive amounts of New World treasure back to Spain when it was caught in a hurricane and sank off the coast of Florida. Although some treasure was recovered over the years, much of it remained on the ocean floor until modern salvagers like the Schmitt family began to uncover it.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq