Latest news with #SanJoseGalleon
Daily Record
a day ago
- General
- Daily Record
Shipwreck carrying £16bn found in Caribbean - but who should own 300 year old treasure?
The San Jose is a Spanish galleon that was sunk in 1708 by the Royal Navy, carrying a serious amount of treasure A shipwreck believed to contain one of history's hugest bounties of treasure- amounting to around £16 billion- has been confirmed by researchers, sparking a fiery legal battle over who should own the cash. The Spanish galleon San Jose is packed with gold, silver and emeralds, and it had been lost beneath the Caribbean waters for more than 300 years. But the location of this long-lost ship has now reached the surface, as academics in Colombia have now definitively identified the wreckage. A wreck found near Baru Island, off the coast of Cartagena, in 2015, has now been confirmed as the legendary ship that sank in 1708 following a fierce battle with the Royal Navy, according to The Telegraph. Now known as the "holy grail of shipwrecks" for its bountiful riches, the San Jose was transporting treasure from Peru to Spain to finance the Spanish side of the War of the Spanish Succession. But on its journey, the vessel was intercepted by a British squadron led by Charles Wager, who later became First Lord of the Admiralty. During the clash, the ship's powder magazines detonated, sending it and its valuable cargo to the murky depths, reports the Express. Finding the ship had been deemed a lost cause until an expedition in 2015 used underwater drones to capture images of the wreckage on the seabed. Now, experts believe that the mystery has finally been solved after 300 years. "This body of evidence substantiates the identification of the wreck as the San Jose Galleon, a hypothesis that has been put forward since its initial discovery in 2015," the academics concluded. "The finding of cobs created in 1707 at the Lima Mint points to a vessel navigating the Tierra Firme route in the early 18th century. The San Jose Galleon is the only ship that matches these characteristics. "This find presents a rare opportunity to explore an underwater archaeological site and deepen our understanding of colonial maritime trade and routes." But as the discovery makes headlines, a legal row has ensued on where (and with whom) the treasure belongs. Photographs of the undersea wreck show dazzling artefacts including silver coins minted in 1707 at the Lima Mint, exquisite Chinese porcelain from the Kangxi period (1662-1722), and ancient cannons emblazoned with markings tracing back to 1665. Colombia, Spain and Peru are all gunning for the treasure, with each nation laying historical claims over the sunken bounty that dates back centuries. Indigenous groups along with descendants of the miners who originally extracted the gold and silver from Peruvian soil also demand recognition and rights to the wreck's riches. Adding to the high seas drama is Glocca Morra, a determined treasure-hunting outfit asserting that it pinpointed the wreck years ago, as early as 1981. The enterprise's modern-day incarnation, Sea Search Armada, is seeking a whopping £7.9 billion, claiming that the current discovery falls within "a mile or two" of where they first detected something in the waters. A 2020 Colombian statute is also standing firm in its declaration that all galleon-bound remnants firmly belong to the state, a regulation that other treasure seekers firmly oppose. The sinking of the San Jose was a major setback for Spain's war effort in the 18th century. The War of the Spanish Succession concluded with Britain taking control of Gibraltar, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, but the legendary treasure remained concealed. Now, after centuries submerged, the riches of the San Jose might finally be revealed - but only if an agreement can be reached on who will take ownership of the treasure. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Wreck with $35b of treasure ‘confirmed' as Spanish galleon, says researchers
Gold and silver coins, pearls and gems, claimed to be worth as much as $35 billion in current prices, were aboard the San Jose. Coins found on the wreck are under investigation in Colombia. Photo / ARC-DIMAR via Antiquity The ship's sinking dented the Spanish effort in the war, which ended with Britain gaining Gibraltar, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Academics in Colombia now claim to have confirmed that the wreck found in 2015 is the San Jose. Using underwater drones, they photographed cargo scattered on and around the wreckage. Analysis of the images found silver coins, minted in 1707 with the hallmarks of the mint at Lima, Peru, among the debris. Other finds included Chinese porcelain from the Kangxi period (1662-1722) and inscriptions on cannons that dated to 1665. The finds suggest the wreckage is of a ship that sank in the early 18th century. 'This body of evidence substantiates the identification of the wreck as the San Jose galleon, a hypothesis that has been put forward since its initial discovery in 2015,' the academics said. Analysis of images found silver coins among the wreckage. Photo / ARC-DIMAR via Antiquity. 'The finding of cobs [Spanish-American dollars] created in 1707 at the Lima Mint points to a vessel navigating the Tierra Firme route in the early 18th century. The San Jose Galleon is the only ship that matches these characteristics. 'This find presents a rare opportunity to explore an underwater archaeological site and deepen our understanding of colonial maritime trade and routes.' The analysis will likely deepen a battle over the legal ownership of the wreckage. Claims have been made by Colombia, Spain, Peru, indigenous communities in the area, descendants of miners who dug up the treasure, and Glocca Morra, the treasure-hunting firm, which says it found the wreck as far back as 1981. Glocca Morra's new owners, Sea Search Armada, insist that the galleon was found within a mile or two of the co-ordinates of its 1981 discovery. The company, which is claiming almost $18b, is also challenging a 2020 law that deemed everything on the ship was Colombian Government property. The researchers added: 'Coins are crucial artefacts for dating and understanding material culture, particularly in shipwreck contexts. '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.' An 8-escudos cob of 1707, based on high-resolution in situ photographs from the 2022 archaeological campaign. Photo / Antiquity The findings follow previous carbon-dating analysis of the wreckage that indicated it was approximately 300 years old. The ship's cargo will not be recovered from the seafloor until the wreckage is 'fully characterised' using 'non-invasive surveys'. With the galleon lying several hundred metres below the surface, it is too deep for human exploration. The study is published in the journal Antiquity.
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
NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
Lost Ship Carrying $16 Billion Treasure Confirmed As "World's Richest Shipwreck", Sparks Ownership Battle
Researchers have confirmed the discovery of the San Jose, a Spanish galleon shipwreck believed to hold one of history's greatest lost treasures, valued at around $16 billion. The find has sparked a multi-billion-pound legal battle over ownership of the gold, silver, and emeralds on board, which had lain undisturbed in the Caribbean waters for over 300 years, the Telegraph reported. Colombian scholars have confirmed that the wreck discovered off the coast of Cartagena in 2015 is indeed the legendary San Jose galleon, which sank in 1708 during a fierce battle with the Royal Navy. The ship, dubbed the "holy grail of shipwrecks," was carrying treasure from Peru to Spain to fund the War of the Spanish Succession when it was intercepted by British forces led by Charles Wager. As per The the San Jose galleon met its end when its powder magazines exploded during the battle, sending the ship and its treasure to the ocean floor. After being lost for centuries, an expedition in 2015 used underwater drones to locate the wreckage, and experts are now confident that the identity of the ship has been confirmed. "This body of evidence substantiates the identification of the wreck as the San Jose Galleon, a hypothesis that has been put forward since its initial discovery in 2015," the academics found. "The finding of cobs created in 1707 at the Lima Mint points to a vessel navigating the Tierra Firme route in the early 18th century. The San José Galleon is the only ship that matches these characteristics. This find presents a rare opportunity to explore an underwater archaeological site and deepen our understanding of colonial maritime trade and routes," they concluded. Photographs of the wreck show silver coins minted in 1707 at the Lima Mint, Chinese porcelain from the Kangxi period (1662–1722), and cannons inscribed with markings dating back to 1665. Who Owns The Treasure Now? The discovery of the San Jose galleon's treasure has sparked a heated dispute over ownership, with multiple parties vying for the claim. The governments of Colombia, Spain, and Peru are all staking their claims, while indigenous communities and descendants of Peruvian miners are also seeking a share. Additionally, the treasure hunting company Sea Search Armada, formerly known as Glocca Morra, claims a portion of the treasure, citing their earlier discovery of the wreckage in 1981. However, Colombia disputes this claim, and a $10 billion lawsuit is ongoing, adding complexity to the already contentious issue of who should rightfully own the treasure.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Gold from legendary 1708 shipwreck holding billions of dollars in treasure is seen in new images
More than three centuries after a legendary Spanish galleon loaded with treasure sank off the coast of Colombia, researches have uncovered new details about gold coins found scattered around the shipwreck. Dubbed the "holy grail" of shipwrecks, the San Jose galleon was sunk by the British navy near Cartagena in 1708, killing most of the roughly 600 crewmembers on board. The ship was believed to be holding gold, silver, gemstones and other treasure worth billions of dollars. Now researchers have analyzed intricately designed gold coins found near the wreck, confirming they are indeed from the iconic San Jose. The coins feature depictions of castles, lions and crosses on the front and the "Crowned Pillars of Hercules" above ocean waves on the back, according to a new study published Tuesday in the journal Antiquity. High-resolution in situ photograph of cob hoard area in the port section of the stern, showing the obverse and reverse faces of coin, as they were observed on the seabed (photographs from ARC-DIMAR, 2022; figure by authors). Daniela Vargas / Antiquity Researchers, including experts from Colombia's navy, studied images taken by remotely operated vehicles of dozens of coins that are scattered around the shipwreck nearly 2,000 feet below the ocean's surface. The study's authors said the exact number of coins on the seabed is difficult to determine "due to the dynamic nature of the site." But an analysis of high-resolution images from the remotely operated vehicles shows each coin's average diameter is 32.5 millimeters and weighs roughly 27 grams. On some of the coins, researchers were able to discern the letters "PVA" — representing a Latin motto meaning "Plus Ultra" or "Further Beyond." That adage was used on currency to signify the expansion of the Spanish monarchy in the Atlantic, the study's authors said. Numbers depicting the coins' denomination and the date of minting (1707) could also be seen. Last August, Colombian authorities said one remotely operated vehicle surveyed the wreck, uncovering numerous artifacts, including an anchor, jugs and glass bottles. The Colombian government announced last year it would begin extractions from the ship off its Caribbean coast, using multiple remotely operated vehicles. The ship was discovered in 2015, but its exact location has been kept secret to protect the storied wreck from potential treasure hunters. Since its discovery, multiple parties have laid claim to the shipwreck, including Colombia, Spain and Indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians who claim the treasures on board were stolen from them. The wreck has also been claimed by U.S.-based salvage company Sea Search Armada, which says it first discovered the wreck more than 40 years ago. The cause of the San Jose's sinking has also been debated. British documents indicate that the ship did not explode, according to Colombia's government, but Spanish reports suggest the ship was blown up in battle. Either way, the ship — laden with chests of emeralds and about 200 tons of gold — sank with most of its crew while heading back from the New World to Spain on June 7, 1708. In May 2024, Colombia declared the site of the shipwreck a "protected archeological area."
