Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Shipwreck yields historic riches -- $500M worth
AP via cnn.com ^ | 05/18/2007 | Staff

Posted on 05/18/2007 7:23:38 AM PDT by Red Badger

TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- Deep-sea explorers said Friday they have mined what could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, bringing home 17 tons of colonial-era silver and gold coins from an undisclosed site in the Atlantic Ocean.

Estimated value: $500 million.

A jet chartered by Tampa-based Odyssey Marine Exploration landed in the United States recently with hundreds of plastic containers brimming with coins raised from the ocean floor, Odyssey co-chairman Greg Stemm said. The more than 500,000 pieces are expected to fetch an average of $1,000 each from collectors and investors.

"For this colonial era, I think (the find) is unprecedented," said rare coin expert Nick Bruyer, who examined a batch of coins from the wreck. "I don't know of anything equal or comparable to it."

Citing security concerns, the company declined to release any details about the ship or the wreck site Friday. Stemm said a formal announcement will come later, but court records indicate the coins might come from a 400-year-old ship found off England.

Because the shipwreck was found in a lane where many colonial-era vessels went down, there is still some uncertainty about its nationality, size and age, Stemm said, although evidence points to a specific known shipwreck. The site is beyond the territorial waters or legal jurisdiction of any country, he said.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; wreck
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-60 next last
That's a lot of booty........just in time for Pirates of the Carribean III....
1 posted on 05/18/2007 7:23:40 AM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I found a dollar once.


2 posted on 05/18/2007 7:28:03 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HEY4QDEMS

I lost a dollar once...


3 posted on 05/18/2007 7:29:20 AM PDT by P-40 (Al Qaeda was working in Iraq. They were just undocumented.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

You should see the video of them unloading literally PALLETS full of buckets of these coins. Just amazing.


4 posted on 05/18/2007 7:29:45 AM PDT by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Arrrr, matey.

}:-)4


5 posted on 05/18/2007 7:29:49 AM PDT by Moose4 (Deport 'em. I don't need landscaping and I'll pay more for lettuce.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

Ping!


6 posted on 05/18/2007 7:30:27 AM PDT by NYer ("Where the bishop is present, there is the Catholic Church" - Ignatius of Antioch)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tijeras_Slim; martin_fierro
Deep-sea explorers said Friday they have mined what could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, bringing home 17 tons of colonial-era silver and gold coins from an undisclosed site in the Atlantic Ocean...

ARRR! That be a lot of booty, mateys.

7 posted on 05/18/2007 7:31:00 AM PDT by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: P-40

I ate a dollar once.


8 posted on 05/18/2007 7:32:12 AM PDT by Clint N. Suhks ( FREE DARFUR)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
The site is beyond the territorial waters or legal jurisdiction of any country

George W. Bush wants it all handed over to the U.N., post haste.

9 posted on 05/18/2007 7:32:21 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (Since yesterday morning the manpower for another army division has crossed the southern border)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HEY4QDEMS

I still go to the beach with my metal detector. Hopefully one day...........


10 posted on 05/18/2007 7:32:43 AM PDT by Red Badger (My gerund got caught in my diphthong, and now I have a dangling participle...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: All

In the immortal words of the late Mel Fisher: “Today’s the day!”


11 posted on 05/18/2007 7:34:14 AM PDT by abb (The Dinosaur Media: A One-Way Medium in a Two-Way World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: P-40

Well then, in that case,

Thank You


12 posted on 05/18/2007 7:34:20 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

After the gubmint gets their cut, how much will they have left?


13 posted on 05/18/2007 7:34:41 AM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

More than I could make for the rest of my life...........


14 posted on 05/18/2007 7:36:33 AM PDT by Red Badger (My gerund got caught in my diphthong, and now I have a dangling participle...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Odyssey Marine Exploration (OMR)

7.04 +2.44 (+53.04%)


15 posted on 05/18/2007 7:36:44 AM PDT by Slicksadick (Go out on a limb........Its where the fruit is.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

The wreck was discovered in international waters, so no governments can claim jurisdiction over the bounty.

However, the parties involved will still have to declare the proceeds as income.


16 posted on 05/18/2007 7:42:21 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day; Tijeras_Slim; martin_fierro

Surrender the booty!


17 posted on 05/18/2007 7:43:52 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

I really doubt that they will bet $1,000 apiece when they flood the market with 500,000 pieces. I doubt there are 500,000 serious collectors willing and able to fork over that much. If “supply and demand” mean anything, this will drop prices.


18 posted on 05/18/2007 7:44:13 AM PDT by jim_trent
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Clint N. Suhks
I ate a dollar once.

Lemmi guess... A couple days later you had "money coming out the wahzoo"
19 posted on 05/18/2007 7:48:31 AM PDT by HEY4QDEMS (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

All tax men all over the world are gnashing their teeth! Ha!


20 posted on 05/18/2007 7:51:24 AM PDT by Sunshine Sister
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson