Valuable Shipwrecks from Recent Past
The numbers of shipwrecks that lay on the ocean floors is in the hundreds of thousands of vessels. No one really knows all the ships over time that were lost at sea. However, the advantages we have is the ability to seize on, decipher and refine research that were the well documented histories of the vessels at sea by Spain, Britain, Portugal, France and others. Many are within reach and have been studied by our expert in archaeology. When combined with the fact we will rely on the exhaustive research done with our search and salvor partners, sometimes through decades of exhaustive expensive research on particular sites and ships, we will narrow down the places where materials and treasure had been found before.
What we do know is the returns on such wrecks can be enormous. Just to show some of the values that can be gotten as returns, below is a synopsis of some of the top valued wrecks throughout the last decades alone. San Jose Shipwreck, from $4 Billion to $15 Billion Estimated
Shipwreck from 1708 off Columbia, was a Spanish Galleon sunk by British Ships with an estimated onboard treasure including gold silver and emeralds. The wreck is now being exploited under agreement with the Columbian government by a “private anonymous” funder.
Ship of Gold $100-150 million (SS Central America)
In September 1857, during a hurricane, the S.S. Central America sank along with 15 tons of gold. This devastation largely contributed to the “Panic of 1857,” which, in the U.S., led to the first worldwide economic crisis. It was discovered in 1987. While being excavated 39 insurance companies made claim to the gold and other artifacts that were being recovered, because back in the 19th century they were all found liable and ending up paying damages “way back when”. After unavoidable legal battles the discovery team ultimately was awarded 92 percent of the gold. Shortly thereafter one gold bar, proved to be a very important piece of currency and broke a worldwide record at the time, selling for $8 million. Atocha Motherlode $450 million (the Mel Fisher Wreck)
The cargo, that is the treasure, that the Nuestra Senora de Atocha carried was so incredibly large and vast that it is said it took two months to load it. So, of course it sank! It went down off the Florida Keys in 1622, and all its gold, copper, silver, indigo, and jewels sank to the ocean floor. The Spanish tried desperately to recover it, but the sea can be a cruel, unfair slave master. However, one man, Mel Fisher took on the beast and after scouring the seabed for nearly 17 years he was rewarded with victory, with the Atocha and all her fortune. The ship was located in July 1985. The wreckage continues to be explored and excavated to this day. Antikythera Treasures $120-160 million
The Antikythera shipwreck prompted the world’s first ever major underwater archaeological expedition. This was in 1900. After divers discovered the shipwreck the Archaeological Service of Greece launched the expedition. However, they were unsuccessful in recovering the most significant part of the cargo, and it wasn’t until 1976 that another team recovered the Antikythera mechanism. This “mechanism” is believed to be the world’s oldest analog computer. Though the ship carried many treasures, this piece has received so much attention from the media that few are aware of Antikythera’s other wondrous treasures, which include pottery, glassware, jewelry, statues, coins and copper couch beds. The Statue of Youth is one of the ship’s most remarkable recovered statues. The classical bronze statue dates back to sometime between 340 and 330 B.C. and is on display, along with the rest of the artifacts, at the Archaeological Museum in Greece.
Treasure of the S.S. Republic $120-180 million
The S.S. Republic shipwreck was discovered by Odyssey, a popular deep-sea salvage and exploration company. The S.S. Republic had been submerged for more than 230 years upon its discovery. It was said to have sank during a hurricane in 1865 off the coast of Georgia. Along with nearly 14,000 artifacts, over 51,000 U.S. silver and gold coins have been recovered. Other treasures include thousands of glasses, bottles, and stoneware containers. As it seems to happen with most all found treasures, shortly after its discovery a lawsuit was filed laying claim to the wreck by a man who accused the Odyssey of using his information in location of the wreck. A federal judge ruled in favor of Odyssey, and in 2004 the company was legally awarded ownership of the S.S. Republic’s cargo. Diamond Shipwreck (Still being valued)
This shipwreck didn’t require scuba gear of any kind whatsoever. It was uncovered on a beach, buried deep in the sand. Geologists working for De Beers were the lucky ones to stumble upon this magnanimous site. Obviously, they were quite stunned to come across such a thing, and many have described it as “the find of a lifetime.” The Diamond shipwreck is the oldest shipwreck ever uncovered on Africa’s coast. Not only did they find the remains of this ancient ship but the treasures it held were mind-blowing. More than 22 ingots were found along with 6 cannons, swords, more than 50 elephant tusks, and thousands of gold coins (traceable to King Joao III). Investigations led to the conclusion that the ship was a Portuguese ship, the Bom Jesus, which had sailed in 1533.
British Treasury Ship $200 million
After it was torpedoed by a German U-boat the S.S. Garisoppa sunk in 1941. The cargo it carried was enormous. It was loaded with approximately 7 million ounces of silver. The total weight makes the S.S. Garisoppa the biggest known metal cargo ever found at sea. So, who lays claim to this prize? The Odyssey Marine Exploration. It was in 2012 that they won the contract for exclusive salvage of the wreckage. Under the contract the Odyssey assumes all risk during excavation, and will receive 80 percent of the cargo, the other portion to go to the U.K. Government Department of Transport. What a deal!
Whydah Gally $400 million
The Whydah Gally is one of the coolest ships ever discovered. Not only is it the only pirate ship ever discovered, but it belonged the richest pirate: Captain “Black Sam” Bellamy. The story goes that the Wydah was once a slave ship, upon capturing it and its bounty Bellamy let the survivors have one of his older vessels and be on their way, retaining the ship as his flagship. The ship was discovered in 1984 by Barry Clifford, and by no accident either. Clifford had searched for years for this infamous pirate ship. Its treasures are endless and are still being recovered today. So far, more than 200,000 artifacts including gold jewelry, coins, cannons, and even the ship’s bell have been surfaced. The artifacts now travel the world in an exhibition sponsored by The National Geographic Society. The exhibition has been aptly named “Real Pirates.” It is incredibly popular.
The Black Swan Project $500 million
Due to these uncertainties, very little was released about the wreck site. Being that this was the largest treasure haul ever discovered in the world meant this uncertainty needed to be sorted out right quick. Experts were called in, and could only return statements of astonishment, saying the find was “unprecedented” and “without comparison.” Finally, the Spanish Government filed its claim against the cargo, and stated they believed the ship to be the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, which had been sunk by the British in 1804. In 2008, the U.S. federal court stepped in to order the Odyssey to disclose its findings — location of the wreck, and any artifacts and treasures uncovered. The information the Odyssey provided ruled out the Nuestra de las Mercedes. After five years of litigation the courts finally made a ruling in favor of Spain, and the treasure had to be flown back. But don’t worry about the Odyssey, they laid claim to almost every other shipwreck on this list. Salcombe Shipwreck (Still being valued)
It was between 1200 and 900 B.C. that a ship sank off the coast of Devon in England. At this time the Hanging Gardens had yet to be built, Babylon was still thriving, and Buddha would not arrive on the scene for centuries. In 2010 its discovery was announced. It was found by amateur archaeologists and so far over 300 artifacts have been uncovered, weighing in at over 185 lbs. The loot consists of weapons, jewelry, and tin and copper ingots. Though it only barely makes the list due to its small quantity of treasures aboard, what it lacks in volume it makes up for in significance. The age of the artifacts is impressive, and their existence proves a definite trade network during the Bronze Age existed between Europe and Britain. Investigations are still seeking the exact location of its origins, however, this feat is incredibly difficult as none of the ships parts are still intact.