[grobdriver]

Wouldn't sunken treasure be considered "Salvage" since the crew did abandon the vessel - perhaps involuntarily.
Salvage rights are routinely awarded.
Why else would someone go to the risk, trouble and expense of locating and raising a wreck or its cargo only to have the supposed "original" owner make a claim on it?
Leave it on the ocean floor, in that case!

[Hatteras]

Spain and France can stick it. If they wanted the stuff so badly, they should have been over here looking for it. Instead, they let others do the work and than step forward only if there's plenty of cash involved.

I can not believe the U.S. Supreme Court capitulated in the Juno case.

Where have you gone, Mel Fischer...

[Centurion2000]

This is total B$ .... tell the french and the spanish to go spit in the wind. Ownership rights of abandoned material goods are GONE after 250 years.

[Tallguy]

Traditionally the salvage company would auction all recovered items. Spain & France would be free to purchase the artifacts if they wished. But I suspect they would prefer that a court should order the salvage company to turn over, free-of-charge, any "works of art" in exchange for the bulk of the bullion.

Given the depth of the wreck, the salvage operation is no trivial matter. It will be a lengthy & expensive operation. Therefore, I suspect that all parties would like an "understanding" before the capital is raised for the salvage operation. I'm sure that anybody thinking of bankrolling this recovery effort would demand as much.

[mamalujo]

finders keepers LOSERS weepers.....

[Blood of Tyrants]

65 kilomerers is well outside the U.S. and in international waters. After 250 years, the finders have 100% claim IMHO.

[RoughDobermann]

Many of its crew of 500 who survived the wreck were reportedly eaten by Florida's cannibalistic Calusa tribe.

The remains of the 50-metre-long vessel

500 men on a 50 metre ship in 1755? Surely they mean 50 men, right?