Golden "GRAT"
About a week or so ago long time historical shipwreck salvor Captain Mike Perna and crew working aboard the M/V Mighty Mo found a beautiful 8 Escudo gold coin. Minted in Mexico City in 1714 or 1715 this type of gold coin was first identified by Mel Fisher and his Treasure Salvors team in the mid-1960's and was referenced as a die 9. It has since become more commonly known as a "Grat" coin. This Mexico City specimen was dated on the cross side rather than the more common shiel
Another Significant Discovery Made!
Several days ago Captain Eric Schmitt and the crew of the M/V Arrr Booty made a significant discovery of gold and silver items at the Douglas Beach wreck site. The recoveries included a beautiful Lima 8 Escudo dated (1)708, seven 8 reale silver coins, several small silver coins and 2 low carat and 2 high carat gold rings. Not only are the finds excellent on their own, but hopefully their recovery location will add to our knowledge of the break up and scatter of the highly dis
Eric Schmitt finds gold coin
Congratulations to Eric Schmitt and the crew of the Aarrr Booty for their find of a Bogota 2 Escudo at the 1715 fleet wreck site known as Douglas Beach. Using methodical excavation techniques, Eric and crew found the coin on June 29th, in an offshore area of the Douglas Beach site. Eric and crew are sure to produce more exciting finds as the summer salvage season progresses! #2018 #AarrrBooty #EricSchmitt #DouglasBeachWreck #1715GoldCoins
Seatrepid finds more gold
The weather has been great and the 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels subcontractors have been getting out and doing methodical excavations on the 1715 fleet wreck sites. The crew of the M/V Seatrepid found several more gold coins at the Douglas Beach wreck. Both coins are 2 Escudo pieces. One is a very nice Lima 2 Escudo dated (1)710. The other coin is an early Bogota 2 Escudo displaying the "A" assayer initial. This dates this coin to between 1632 and 1642. An early strike indeed for
First gold of the season
After a long windy and rough winter, the weather finally broke on June 2nd starting the 2018 summer field season. A number of vessels working with 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels, LLC on the 1715 fleet wreck sites have made it out and some artifact finds are being made. Captain Dan Porter and Captain John Brandon found first gold on Sunday, June 3rd. Using Dan’s new salvage vessel the M/V Seatrepid crewman Levin Shavers found a beautiful Mexico 1 Escudo, circa 1715, pictured. #2018
John Brandon and Dan Porter shake to celebrate
Veteran historical shipwreck salvors Capt. John Brandon (left) and Capt. Dan Porter share a congratulatory hand shake after another successful collaboration, while holding 16 gold coins. The gold coins were recovered by Dan and the crew of the M/V Sea Reaper from August 17th through August 20th at the 1715 fleet Douglas Beach Wreck in an area suggested by John. John and Dan have cooperated on numerous successful historical shipwreck recoveries, with Dan starting to work with
Capt. Josh Fisher Abt adds to gold legacy
On Sunday, August 20th, Capt. Dan Porter of the M/V Sea Reaper was working on another 1715 fleet project and had Josh Abt, Mel Fisher's grandson, captain the Sea Reaper for the day. Capt. Josh returned to the area where the Sea Reaper and crew had been recovering gold coins over the previous three days and recovered an additional Bogota 2 escudo gold coin. Pictured is Capt. Josh, to left, and diver Rob Hill who actually brought up the coin. This makes Josh the third generatio
M/V Sea Reaper continues gold streak
Capt. Dan Porter and the crew of the M/V Sea Reaper continue to recover gold coins from the Douglas Beach Wreck site. On Saturday they recovered ten more 2 escudos with numismatic specimens from the mints at Bogota, Lima, Mexico and possibly another Cuzco. Many bore clearly legible dates. It was also a day of firsts, with many of the Sea Reaper's crew finding their first gold coins. Pictured below is Art Schweitzer, a principle in Dan's company Maritime Research & Recovery, w
M/V Sea Reaper find more gold 2 escudos
On Friday Capt. Dan Porter and the crew of the M/V Sea Reaper continued their careful and methodical explorations of the area of the Douglas Beach Wreck site's debris field where they discovered two gold coins Thursday. Three more gold coins were recovered. All are 2 escudo specimens. One of the coins was dated 1698, and while the mint mark was not legible and the assayer's initial was weak, it appears this coin may have been struck at the mint at Cuzco, Peru. This is signifi
M/V Sea Reaper follows lead to gold coins
M/V Sea Reaper diver Rob Hill is shown with a just recovered Mexico 2 escudo dated 1712. 1715 Fleet-Queens Jewels Operations Manager John Brandon suggested a challenging area of the 1715 fleet Douglas Beach Wreck site's debris field for Capt. Dan Porter and the Sea Reaper crew to reinvestigate. Utilizing highly refined search techniques Capt. Porter and crew recovered the Mexico 2 escudo as well as Rob also finding a Bogota 2 escudo! #DanPorter #DouglasBeachWreck #JohnBrandon
