The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recovered $1 million worth of gold coins stolen from the wrecks of Spanish treasure ships that sank off Florida’s coast during a hurricane in 1715.

A member of a family that discovered a ‘treasure trove’ of 101 coins from these wrecks has been accused of selling several stolen coins between 2023 and 2024. The FWC announced that 37 gold coins from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks were recovered, marking a significant milestone in an ongoing investigation into the theft and illegal trafficking of these historical artifacts.

The 1715 Fleet, a collection of Spanish treasure ships, sank during a hurricane off Florida’s coast in 1715. The artifacts recovered from these wrecks are protected by state and federal law.

According to the FWC, members of the Schmitt family, working as salvage operators for 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC, uncovered 101 gold coins off the Florida coast. While 51 of these coins were properly reported, 50 were not disclosed and were subsequently stolen.

In June 2024, the FWC, in collaboration with the FBI, found evidence linking Eric Schmitt, a Schmitt family member, to the illegal sale of multiple stolen gold coins. Investigators executed several search warrants, recovering coins from private residences, safe deposit boxes, and auctions. Five stolen coins were reclaimed from a Florida-based auctioneer who unknowingly purchased them from Eric Schmitt.

Advanced digital forensics identified metadata and geolocation data linking Eric Schmitt to a photograph of the stolen coins taken at the Schmitt family condominium in Fort Pierce. It was also discovered that Eric Schmitt placed three of the stolen gold coins on the ocean floor in 2016 to be found by new investors of 1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC.

The FWC collaborated with historical preservation experts, including Mel Fisher-Abt, to authenticate and appraise the recovered artifacts, which will be returned to their rightful owners.

“This case underscores the importance of safeguarding Florida’s rich cultural heritage and holding accountable those who seek to profit from its exploitation,” said FWC Investigator Camille Soverel.

Cultural resource violations can be reported to the FWC by downloading the “FWC Wildlife Alert” app, texting 847411 (Tip411) with the keyword “FWC” and information about the violation, calling the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922), or submitting a tip online at FWC Wildlife Alert.

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(Image credit: Marcoriveroph/Getty Images)