26 Aug 2013 Treasure worth millions found by family in shipwreck

The Schmitt family from Florida made the discovery of a lifetime eight years ago. They've been treasure hunting for a long time, but none of the previous finds compare to the latest. They found gold coins and chains from shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean.

Experts have estimated the value of the treasure at $300,000, or about six million crowns. The gold came from the wrecks of a convoy of eleven ships. They were wrecked in 1715 when they were hit by a hurricane on their way from Havana to Spain. They were carrying $400 million worth of objects, as can be seen from the logbooks.

Fortunately, they sank close to the coast, and 1 500 sailors managed to swim to shore and save themselves. Yet 1,000 sailors died. Hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of gold was struck by the eldest son, Eric Schmitt. Back in 2002, he discovered a $25,000 silver bowl. making him the most successful prospector in the family.

"The entire bottom was covered in gold. Eight gold chains and all these coins were in there. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my life," said the family's father, Rick Smitt.

The Schmitt's help boast the discovery of many valuables and are truly wealthy. Most of the 2013 find stayed with them or will be split between the finders and the company that paid them. Florida kept only 20 percent of the find.

The search for the convoy and the treasures was originally undertaken by Brent Brisben's 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels. In 2010, it bought the rights to search the area from the descendants of perhaps the most famous wreck hunter, Mel Fisher, who discovered the wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha in 1985.

Captain Eric Schmitt of the Aarr Booty was able to find 51 Spanish gold coins of varying value and a 12-metre ornate gold chain at a depth of five metres. "They are not only of financial value, but mainly of historical significance," said Brent Brisben.

Eric Smitt even found all the parts of the 400-year-old gold jewelry. It's a necklace worn by Spanish priests. Spanish historians examined it and concluded it matched another piece of jewelry that was found 25 years ago. It's a necklace worn by Spanish priests.

Sources: www.novinky.cz, www.aktualne.cz, www.tn.cz