16 May 2011 Golden chain from the 17th century

Ten years ago, Bill Burt pulled a 17th century gold chain from the ocean. It was estimated to be worth $250,000. The diver spotted the lavish jewel while diving to the wreck of the Spanish ship Nuestra Senora de Atocha.

The Spanish galleon was wrecked in 1622 near Key West, Florida. Back in 1985, the wreck was discovered by Mel Fisher, who became one of the richest treasure hunters.

We wrote about it here: Diving off the Nuestra Senora de Atocha

The gold chain was found by Bill Burt, who works for Mel Fisher's Treasures. He was looking for the wrecked Nuestra Senora de Atocha. The chain is made up of 55 links and features an enamel cross and a double-sided engraved medallion with the Virgin Mary and a chalice. On the edges of the cross there are inscriptions in Latin. The chain measures over 100 centimetres.

Earlier, underwater archaeologists discovered 22 silver coins and a cannonball as they moved eastward from the wreck site. "We moved north, where there was also a beautiful gold chain. In the nine years I have been captain of Mel Fisher's Treasures, we have not been able to find anything like it. This is the most unique thing we've recovered from the water so far," said Andy Matroci, captain of the salvage boat Mel Fisher's Treasures.

The jewel is believed to have come from the infamous Atocha treasure trove. The company has already recovered half a billion dollars worth of historical artifacts in the time it has been diving to the wreck. And that's in gold, silver and emeralds.

Specifically, they have discovered thousands of artifacts, silver coins, gold coins (many in near pristine) condition, beautiful sets of jewelry with precious stones, gold chains, various kinds of armaments, and even seeds that later germinated.

They were arguing with the US government, which laid claim to the wreck and everything aboard. State officials in Florida seized many of the items Fisher's crew had acquired. But after eight years of litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the finders.

At the time the diver retrieved the gold chain, Mel Fisher's Treasures was far from finished with the search. The aft of the ship, where wealthy passengers of the nobility and clergy traveled, still remained to be explored. Experts say there's half a billion dollars worth of treasure...

Sources: www.dailymail.co.uk