Posted on 02/22/2012 8:54:50 AM PST by KeyLargo
Spain to send military planes to Florida to collect a half of a billion dollars worth of treasure 17 tons of treasure that U.S. undersea explorers found could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, experts speculate.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Monday, February 20, 2012, 6:12 PM
Spain said Monday it will soon send hulking military transport planes to Florida to retrieve 17 tons of treasure that U.S. undersea explorers found but ultimately lost in American courts, a find experts have speculated could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Apparently the Aztecs didn’t file a claim
Heck, if I was working that ship I'd have been stuffing a handfull of coins into my pockets every chance I got......
You would object to someone pulling souvenirs out of the USS Arizona, USS Utah, or any of the American ships at the bottom of Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal. Same principle.
They should have contacted the Spanish government before launching the operation, they might have gotten a contract and a fat commission. Now they get nothing.
I would take it back where I found it and dump it overboard. Let Spain dive for it and bring it back up if they want it so bad.
Jesus agrees: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.``
While Odyssey got bent over and screwed royally in this case, it actually worked to their advantage in the end.
With Spain pitching a bitch and the U.S. basically abandoning them, Odyssey signed a lucrative contract with the British Government to search for and salvage British wrecks. The Brits fund Odyssey’s costs for searching and when something is found those costs are taken off the top of the find and everything else is split 50/50 between Odyssey and the Brits.
Keeps them funded and on the seas, and is a win/win for both parties.
Plus, Odyssey’s successes have also resulted in a History Channel/Discovery TV show for Odyssey — I think it is called Treasure Quest or something like that.
So, in the end this find turned out to be quite fruitful for Odyssey. Plus, anyone who thinks they turned in every coin is very likely fooling themselves.
No, if found off Florida or anywhere near the US, Spain cant recoup crap. They lost the Spanish-American war and all claim to the New World.
The problem with Spain claiming all gold is that now everyone will hide their finds; and whatever we might have learned about the ship historically, and whatever artifacts might have been found with it, will be lost.
Not entirely correct. The case isn’t over as they salvager now has a claim of pure or merit salvage — the salvage of a ship and it’s cargo without a contract or consent.
Abandoned my ass. The US actively worked against Odyssey:
WikiLeaks reveals a secret deal against Tampa's Odyssey Marine Exploration
...The Guardian online found a diplomatic cable in which the American suggested he might be able to help Spain repatriate their coins if they would return a rare painting claimed by an American couple in San Diego...
I agree! Totally!
Our own State Department sided with Spain against the Americans who salvaged this treasure.
They should have thrown it on a boat and dumped it overboard somewhere near the area where they found it.
And let’s not overlook the fact that the Spanish claim of ownership is tainted. After all - they came into possession of the silver and gold by stealing it from the indigenous people of Central and South America.
It appears the contents and the ship belong to whatever nations it was or is....but they should still compensate the company who found and recovered the items.
Lots of military wrecks were plundered in the North Sea
for scrap metal, including UK warships lost in WWI, HMS Hogue, Abukir and Cressey among them.
Parliament passed a protection act protecting them after the fact.
That’s the point - they were plundered. Like any thieves, if the plunderers aren’t caught they get away with their crimes. That doesn’t make them anything more than thieves.
So every galleon and war canoe 500 years out still remains the property of the "State" that owned it? No statute of limitations? No salvage rights?
Kinda silly. But what the he!!. With that statement you just closed down the entire legitimate treasure hunting industry around the world.
I’m just explaining why the salvage company lost. If they had worked a deal with the Spanish government before starting the project this would not have happened.
Civilian ships are fair game.
After all - they came into possession of the silver and gold by stealing it from the indigenous people of Central and South America.
Like the guys hired to remodel a house and tore open the ceiling and 497 gold coins fell out. (Recent FR thread)
.
.
There were 3 guys working.
I wouldn’t want salvors plundering USS Indianapolis even 1000 years from now!
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