Latest news with #JerusalemCross
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The ‘Holy Grail of Shipwrecks' Is Still Underwater. So Is Its $17 Billion Fortune.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Considered the world's richest shipwreck, the San Jose was found off the coast of Colombia in 2015. New research into the gold coins now scattered on the ocean floor offered insights into the decorative pieces minted in Lima. Valued at a modern-day $17 billion, the San Jose's bounty is still untouched. Exploration of the San Jose shipwreck and the precious metal coins it scattered about 1,970 feet below the ocean's surface off the coast of Colombia confirmed it really was the richest shipwreck in the world. Considered the Holy Grail of all shipwrecks, the Spanish galleon San Jose blew up and sank in 1708 at the hands of British cannons, and it took with it what experts have estimated to be $17 billion in modern-day wealth, largely in the form of coins from 10 years of taxes saved up from the Americas. The shipwreck was first located in 2015. A new study published in the journal Antiquity showed how using remotely operated vehicles allowed researchers to get close to the underwater coins and confirm that the wreck found in 2015—which launched a custody battle between Colombia and Spain—really is the long-sought San Jose with an untold number of coins still on the seafloor. 'Among the key finds are hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins—known as cobs in English and macuquinas in Spanish—that served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries,' the study's lead author, Daniela Vargas Ariza, wrote about the coins often cut from gold or silver ingots. Ariza is a maritime archaeologist at Colombia's Almirante Padilla Naval Cadet School in Cartagena and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History in Bogota. The exact number of coins visible is difficult to determine due to the nature of the underwater site, but the cobs identified in high-resolution photos taken by the ROV show they have an average diameter of 1.3 inches and weigh 27 grams. At an estimated 200 tons of gold, silver, and uncut gemstones, that's a lot of wealth in the water. The photographs did help add some detail to what's known about the shipwreck's treasure. One side of the coins featured a Jerusalem Cross—a large cross with four smaller crosses—along with a shield featuring a castle and lions within a dotted border. On the flip side, the central design features the Pillars of Hercules above waves of the sea. The researchers said the design of the waves offers an identifying element for coins coming from the Lima Mint. Coins also feature marks of an assayer—an expert who tests metal purity—hammered on the edges. The researchers believe the evidence gleaned from the cobs help substantiate the long-held hypothesis that this wreck truly is the San Jose. 'This case study highlights the value of coins as key chronological markers in the identification of shipwrecks, particularly those from the Tierra Firme Fleet,' Ariza wrote. The sinking of the ship at this site must have occurred after 1707, the year the coins were minted. This, along with the presence of Chinese porcelain from the Kangzi period of 1662-1722 A.D. and the inscriptions on the cannon dating to 1665, suggest the ship sank in the early 18th century. The features on the coins also helped determine the route taken by the sunken vessel, including how the cobs were likely sourced from Peruvian mines (minting of gold coins began at the Lima Mint in 1696). There's also historical context important in identifying the wreck. In 1706, the Viceroy Marques de Castelldosrius arrived in Peru to reactivate the Portobello fair and send accumulated taxes of a decade to the Iberian Peninsula. In late 1707, Peruvian merchants and officials traveled to Puerto Perico on the Pacific coast of Panama, according to the study. There, they met the Tierra Firme Fleet, commanded by the galleon San Jose, which held the monopoly on transporting royal treasures between South America and the Iberian Peninsula. After the Portobello fair, the San Jose departed for Cartagena carrying goods and metals, including the cobs. 'The San Jose Galleon,' the authors wrote, 'is the only ship that matches these characteristics.' Cobs were the primary way the Spanish transported large volumes of wealth from the Americas to Europe, so these coin hoards likely formed part of the royal treasure dispatched from Peru by Castelldosrius. But when the fleet of 18 ships left Cartagena bound for Spain on June 8, 1708, it was attacked by five British warships during the War of the Spanish Succession. The cannon battle resulted in the exploding of San Jose's gunpowder stores, sinking the 150-foot-long ship. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Photos show possible treasure from 300-year-old 'holy grail' of shipwrecks off Colombia
CARTAGENA, Colombia – An underwater mission to investigate a 300-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Colombia has revealed new photos of gold coins. The San José Galleon was sunk in 1708 by a British warship, bringing down the ship full of treasure, including gold coins. For years, the Colombian government has wanted to locate and recover the treasure from the San José, but the exact location of the ship has never been publicly revealed. How A 128-Year-old Great Lakes Shipwreck Was Found Thanks To An Invasive Animal Four unmanned vehicles have been deployed to investigate the shipwreck since 2015. In 2022, photos revealed the spatial distribution of the remains of the ship. A recent study published in Antiquity showed researchers analyzed high-resolution pictures of gold coins found around the shipwreck to try and determine if the wreck truly is the San Jose Galleon. How To Watch Fox Weather While it was difficult to determine the exact number of coins on the seafloor, researchers found the coins were estimated to have an average diameter of 32.5 mm and (1.3 inches) and probably weigh about 27 grams (about 1 ounce). Close analysis of the faces of the coins showed details of the Jerusalem Cross with the Quartered Shield of Castles and Lions, a symbol of Castile and Leon, within a dotted border, the study said. Historic Treasure Trove Of Gold, Jewelry Found In Czech Forest Details of the Crowned Pillars of Hercules above the waves of the sea could be seen on the coins' opposite side. According to the study, between the pillars of Hercules was an "L" indicating the coins were minted in Lima, Peru. An "8" on the coins proved they were the highest value of coins created at the time; an "H" referenced the mark of Francisco de Hurtado, the Chief Assayer in 1707. Shipwreck Found In Lake Superior Sank In 1940 During Storm, Taking Captain Down With It The year of minting was noted by a "707", meaning the coins were minted in 1707. These details indicate the shipwreck happened in 1708 and helps point to the route the ship took prior to its sinking. The study said the evidence supports the identification of the wreck as the San José article source: Photos show possible treasure from 300-year-old 'holy grail' of shipwrecks off Colombia
New York Post
2 days ago
- General
- New York Post
Shipwreck treasure worth $20B found near Colombia -- coins could be the 'holy grail' proof
Officials claim they used coins discovered inside a shipwreck off the coast of Colombia to prove the underwater graveyard is the legendary San José that was carrying a $20 billion treasure when it sank. The Colombian government used an unmanned vehicle to inspect the wreckage of the 18th-century vessel to prove it has found the lost Spanish galleon. The underwater craft carried out a non-intrusive investigation to document areas of the shipwreck that have yet to be photographed that contained coin-like objects, according to a study from Antiquity. 7 Coins discovered in a hoard area of the stern of the shipwreck off the coast of Colombia. ARC-DIMAR 2022/VARGAS ARIZA ET AL. ANTIQUITY 2025 Coins found in a hoard area in the ship's stern were photographed and analyzed. Scientists used photogrammetry on the images to produce 3-D models of the treasure, along with models of similar coins, to determine its age and origin. Engraved markings revealed the coins were minted back in 1707 in Lima, Peru. Heraldic symbols were discovered to bear the crests of the crowns of Castile and Leon indicating a Hispanic galleon, the study found. The coins also bear a Jerusalem Cross, Columns of Hercules, sea waves, and symbols denoting the Lima mint and the number 8 for 'Escudo de 8,' the type of coin. 'Coins are crucial artifacts for dating and understanding material culture, particularly in shipwreck contexts,' lead researcher Daniela Vargas Ariza in the study. 'Hand-struck, irregularly shaped coins—known as cobs in English and macuquinas in Spanish— served as the primary currency in the Americas for more than two centuries.' 7 Heraldic symbols were discovered to bear the crests of the crowns of Castile and Leon indicating a Hispanic galleon, the study found. ARC-DIMAR 2022/VARGAS ARIZA ET AL. ANTIQUITY 2025 7 The shipwreck of what is believed to be the San José sits at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Colombia. Presidencia de la República – Colombia Vargas Ariza is from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH). The San José was the flagship vessel of the Flota de Tierra Firme, a fleet tasked with transporting the treasures from South America across the Atlantic back to the Spanish Empire to South America during the War of the Spanish Succession. During one voyage, the doomed ship was struck by a British warship during an ambush and sank on June 8, 1708. The prized haul is believed to include emerald, gold, and silver worth as much as $20 billion. 7 The San José galleon explodes after an ambush from a British warship during the June 8, 1708, battle off Cartagena, Colombia. 7 Tea cups were discovered buried in the sand among the wreckage. Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get The resting place for the ship was unknown until at least the late 20th century, when the American company Glocca Morra — now Sea Search Armada — claimed to have discovered a shipwreck off the coast of Colombia. The company shared the coordinates with the Colombian government in a deal that would net them half the fortune of treasure on board, approximately $10 billion. Colombian officials say they've never found a shipwreck at the coordinates but claim they found the missing San José in an undisclosed location in 2015. 7 The prized haul is believed to include emerald, gold, and silver worth as much as $20 billion. Colombian Presidency/AFP via Get Sea Search has sued the Colombian Government under the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement believing the country found part of the same debris field in 2015 that it first discovered 34 years earlier. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the shipwreck to be preserved and the treasure exhumed from the bottom of the ocean by the time his term ends in 2026. In 2024, Colombia proclaimed the shipwreck to be a 'protected archeological area' that would ensure its 'long-term preservation.' Colombia's culture ministry said it 'guarantees the protection of heritage' and would allow for the 'development of research, conservation and valuation activities,' the AFP reported. 7 The resting place for the ship was unknown until at least the late 20th century. ARC-DIMAR 2022/VARGAS ARIZA ET AL. ANTIQUITY 2025 Petro initially wanted to bring the 62-gun, three-masted ship to the surface and had requested a public-private partnership be formed. No official declaration of discovery has been made of the San José.
Al Bawaba
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
'Kafer' tattoo on US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparks outrage
ALBAWABA - US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently sparked debate on social media after several users noticed the word "kafer" (non-believer in Arabic) tattooed on his arm, despite having a Crusader cross tattoo right next to it. The picture was part of a post shared on Musk's X (formerly known as Twitter) by Hegseth's official account, where he "kicked off the day with the warriors of SDVT-1," following photos of the interaction. He wrote, "Kicked off the day alongside the warriors of SDVT-1 at @JointBasePHH. These SEALs are the tip of the spear, masters of stealth, endurance, and lethality. America's enemies fear them—our allies trust them. Proud to spend time with America's best." Several X users noticed the tattoo and took to the comment section to express their opinions on the matter in question. An X user wrote, "Do you even know what that tattoo means?" While another added, "Why do you arm the people who call you "Kaffir"?" This is not the first time Pete Hegseth sparked debate on social media for his tattoos. During an interview with Fox News, the US Secretary of Defense had to explain why he had a Crusader cross tattooed on him, which caused widespread controversy since it's allegedly linked to white nationalist extremists. Hegseth responded and said, "Ultimately, I was considered an extremist or a white nationalist because of the tattoos I had by leaders in my unit," solidifying that it's a "Jerusalem Cross," which is also known as a Crusader cross.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tattooed Hegseth Is Going After Beards in the Military With Grooming Standards Review
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of the military's grooming standards—and he wants his generals to look very closely at beards. In a memo to senior military leaders, Hegseth asked for a review of all fitness, body composition, and grooming standards going back to January 2015, 'which includes but is not limited to beards.' Hegseth says the review is necessary for 'maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world's most lethal and effective fighting force.' 'This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards,' Hegseth added. Hegseth is on a mission to remove and cancel all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content and policies at the Defense Department, which may suggest why beards are mentioned in the memo. Beards are generally not admitted in the U.S. military, although exemptions are made for those with medical or religious reasons, and different branches of the military have different policies. The Air Force updated its dress policy in 2019 during President Donald Trump's first term to include turbans, beards, and hijabs, allowing Sikhs and Muslims to serve while abiding by the practices of their faith. Grooming and appearance restrictions were also modified under the Biden administration in 2021, under a directive 'to improve the wellbeing of all soldiers.' Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer who was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, has previously been criticized for his appearance. He has several tattoos on his arms and chest, some of which commentators say evoke ideas of militant Christianity common among far-right communities. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) asked about these tattoos at Hegseth's confirmation hearing in January, saying, apparently sarcastically, 'What is this very offensive, extremist, racist tattoo that you have?' Hegseth said his chest tattoo is the 'Jerusalem Cross, a historic Christian symbol.' He said his tattoos prevented him from serving at President Joe Biden's inauguration as a National Guardsman, claiming he was identified as an 'extremist, someone unworthy of guarding the inauguration of an incoming American president.' Hegseth's memo on grooming standards does not mention tattoos. The Department of Defense had no comment for the Daily Beast when asked whether tattoos are included in the review or if they would be in the future.
