Diving treasure hunters struck gold off the coast of Fort Pierce, Florida again. The coins and artifacts recovered has an estimated value of over one million dollars. I know what you’re thinking… I must be in the wrong profession.

Watch as the diver and boat captain Eric Schmitt discover the treasure in his video. Muffled by his breathing device, we can hear how excited he is to find the first pieces of the treasure. His excitement is both inaudible and hysterical.

Schmitt and his family made the June 17 find in shallow waters off the coast of Fort Pierce in about 15 feet of water. The crew excavated about five feet of sand to make their way to the bedrock of the ocean floor. They found what they were looking for. Captain Jack Sparrow would be so jealous.

Schmitt recovered 51 gold coins and 40 feet of ornate gold chain, including a single coin called a Royal that was destined for the King of Spain.

The owner of 1715 Fleet-Queen Jewels LLC, Brent Brisben, has the salvage rights to the treasure. He spoke about the Royal as being a perfect specimen of the coinage of the period. The coins are engraved with the date 1715. Only a handful of Royals from the 1715 fleet wreck are known to exist.

The tragedy that is the 1715 Fleet is considered one of the most important in maritime history. Eleven galleons laden with treasures from the New World were bound for Spain and were lost during a hurricane on July 31, 1715.

For the divers who made the discovery, it was especially significant as the wrecks 300th anniversary was approaching. How exciting!

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