Stolen Gold Coins Worth $1 Million From 1715 Fleet Shipwrecks Recovered Off Florida

Authorities in Florida have recovered 37 gold coins worth more than $1 million that were stolen from the 1715 Spanish Fleet shipwrecks off the state’s Treasure Coast.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the recovery on Tuesday after a years-long investigation into the theft of these historical artefacts.

The 1715 Fleet was a group of Spanish ships that sank during a hurricane just days after departing from Havana, Cuba, on July 24, 1715.

These ships carried large amounts of gold, silver, and jewels meant for Spain, and the wrecks have been a source of treasure hunters for centuries.

In 2015, a group of salvage operators, including members of the Schmitt family, were contracted to recover items from the shipwrecks. They found 101 gold coins, among which 51 were reported properly, 50 others were not disclosed and were later stolen.

The coins went missing, and authorities soon found that Eric Schmitt, a member of the Schmitt family, was involved in their illegal sale.

The FWC, working alongside the FBI, launched an investigation that found Schmitt’s involvement in selling stolen coins. In 2023 and 2024, Schmitt was linked to the illegal sale of several coins to private collectors and auction houses.

Investigators used advanced digital forensics to confirm Schmitt’s involvement by tracing metadata and geolocation data from a photograph of the stolen coins taken at his condominium in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The stolen coins were eventually traced to various locations, including private homes, safe deposit boxes, and auction houses. One auctioneer had unknowingly purchased five of the coins from Schmitt.

Investigators also found that Schmitt had placed three of the stolen coins back on the ocean floor in 2016, where they were later “discovered” by new investors of the 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels, LLC, the company responsible for salvaging the wreck.

FWC officials worked closely with historical preservation experts, including Mel Fisher-Abt, to authenticate and appraise the recovered coins. The coins are now set to be returned to their rightful custodians.

Eric Schmitt is facing charges related to dealing with stolen property, and the FWC has discussed the importance of protecting Florida’s cultural heritage from exploitation.

The agency’s investigator, Camille Soverel, commented that the case shows the need to hold accountable those who try to profit from stolen historical treasures.

While 37 stolen coins have been recovered, 13 remain missing, and the search continues for these remaining pieces of history. The FWC has vowed to keep looking until all the stolen artefacts are returned to where they belong.

References: Fox Weather, CNN