In addition to the gold bars, the treasure recovered from Atocha includes Colombian emeralds – stones considered rare and more expensive than diamonds. Some of these gems were recently auctioned off in April 2017, including the 884-carat gem described as “one of the largest high-quality gems in the world” with an estimated value of 4-4.5 million USD (or about 91-114 billion VND).

The treasure also contains numerous rare jewels and antiques. For example, a gold chain is estimated to cost up to 120,000 USD (2.7 billion VND), while an antique spoon with intricate carvings could fetch up to 180,000 USD (4 billion VND).

Another remarkable artifact recovered from the Atocha is a bezoar stone, a foreign body found in the stomachs of sheep, deer, or llamas. These stones are said to have the ability to detoxify when immersed in poisonous water and can be priced up to $35,000 per tablet (795 million VND).

Gold and silver found in the NuesTra Señora de Atocha . shipwreck

World’s Most Valuable

Nuestra Señora de Atocha, also known as Our Lady Atocha, is a well-known sunken ship that is famous for the enormous amount of treasure it carried. This is why its name still echoes to this day.

In 2014, The Telegraph reported that Atocha was included in The Guinness Book of World Records as the most valuable shipwreck ever recovered. It carriedaout 40 tons of gold and silver, and 32 kg of emeralds when it sank. The treasure was so vast that it took workers two months to transfer it to the surface, according to Richest.

Since its discovery, the treasure has been valued at up to 450 million USD (10.2 trillion VND) and has been continuously mined, according to Mental Floss.

Since its discovery, the mined treasure has a total value of up to 450 million USD (10.2 trillion VND).

The ship was carrying about 40 tons of gold and silver when it sanк

Emeralds recovered from the Atocha

Currently, the Treasure’s rare arTifacts have either sold for exorbitant prices, or are on display at The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West, Florida. The sTory of the Spanish ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha and the Treasure hunter Mel Fisher is also one of The most famous treasure hunT sTories in the world.

Where is the Treasure?

Named after a religious district in Madrid, Spain, the Nuestra Señora de Atocha was part of a fleet of ships that left Havana, Cuba in early September 1622. In addition to 265 people, the ship carriedaout 40 tons of gold and silver and other valuables. expensive iTems from Colombia, Peru and oTher parts of South America.

After being hit by a hurricane on September 9, 1622, the Atocha was sunk off the coast of Key West, Florida, USA. Most of The people on board were killed, except for two sailors and three slaves. They survived by clinging to the sail, the only part of the ship that floated on the water.

ATocha ship sank in early September 1622

As news spread, the Spanish government senT five oTher ships to The area to search for the Atocha. however they failed. AnoTher sTorm hit on October 5, causing The wreck to continue to be desTroyed and sink.

After six decades of searching by the Spaniards, no trace of Atocha or the treasure has been found, according To History.

Near the end of the 20Th cenTury, an American farmer named Mel Fisher – later a treasure hunter – decided to track down Atocha.

Since 1969, Fisher has searched the ATocha Tirelessly, discovering many small signs in the process such as three silver bars in 1973, five bronze cannons in 1975. This led him To believe he was approaching the ship.

One of Atocha’s cannons recovered

However, just a few days later, Fisher’s son and wife died during a treasure hunt when one of their small boaTs capsized.

Despite this great loss, Fisher conTinued his work. In 1980, Fisher’s team discovered the bulk of the wreck of the SanTa Chevita, Atocha’s sister ship. Finally, in July 1985, Fisher’s other son, Kane, discovered the legendary ship.

Fisher’s team described the ship under the sea aT that time as a coral reef of gold and silver. They found the mark on the silver bar maTched Atocha’s cargo manifest, confirming thaT this was the ship They were looking for.

The joy did not last long, after Fisher’s discovery, the state of Florida confirmed the ship and forced Fisher to give the state 25% of the treasure found.

Mel Fisher is the one who found The treasure of the Atocha

Fisher disapproved, claiming the find was his own. After eight years of litigation, the US Supreme CourT finally ruled in Fisher’s favor on July 1, 1992. He was given ownership of all the treasures found from the ship.

Most of the invesTors who joined the search process wiTh Fisher became millionaires thanks to the treasure of The Atocha. Fisher later died on December 19, 1998.