Greater than three centuries after a legendary Spanish galleon loaded with treasure sank off the coast of Colombia, researches have uncovered new particulars about gold cash discovered scattered across the shipwreck.
Dubbed the “holy grail” of shipwrecks, the San Jose galleon was sunk by the British navy close to Cartagena in 1708, killing many of the roughly 600 crewmembers on board. The ship was believed to be holding gold, silver, gems and different treasure price billions of {dollars}.
Now researchers have analyzed intricately designed gold cash discovered close to the wreck, confirming they’re certainly from the long-lasting San Jose. The cash characteristic depictions of castles, lions and crosses on the entrance and the “Topped Pillars of Hercules” above ocean waves on the again, based on a brand new research revealed Tuesday within the journal Antiquity.
Daniela Vargas / Antiquity 
Researchers, together with specialists from Colombia’s navy, studied photos taken by remotely operated autos of dozens of cash which are scattered across the shipwreck practically 2,000 ft beneath the ocean’s floor. The research’s authors stated the precise variety of cash on the seabed is tough to find out “because of the dynamic nature of the location.” However an evaluation of high-resolution photos from the remotely operated autos exhibits every coin’s common diameter is 32.5 millimeters and weighs roughly 27 grams.
On a few of the cash, researchers have been capable of discern the letters “PVA” — representing a Latin motto which means “Plus Extremely” or “Additional Past.” That adage was used on foreign money to suggest the growth of the Spanish monarchy within the Atlantic, the research’s authors stated. Numbers depicting the cash’ denomination and the date of minting (1707) is also seen.
The research’s authors stated the cash from this era have been usually minimize from gold or silver ingots.
“Hand-struck, irregularly formed cash — often known as cobs in English and macuquinas in Spanish — served as the first foreign money within the Americas for greater than two centuries,” the authors stated in a statement.
Antiquity 
Final August, Colombian authorities stated one remotely operated automobile surveyed the wreck, uncovering numerous artifacts, together with an anchor, jugs and glass bottles.
The Colombian authorities introduced final 12 months it could start extractions from the ship off its Caribbean coast, utilizing a number of remotely operated autos. The ship was discovered in 2015, however its actual location has been stored secret to guard the storied wreck from potential treasure hunters.
Since its discovery, a number of events have laid declare to the shipwreck, together with Colombia, Spain and Indigenous Qhara Qhara Bolivians who declare the treasures on board have been stolen from them. The wreck has additionally been claimed by U.S.-based salvage firm Sea Search Armada, which says it first found the wreck greater than 40 years in the past.
The reason for the San Jose’s sinking has additionally been debated. British paperwork point out that the ship didn’t explode, according to Colombia’s government, however Spanish reviews recommend the ship was blown up in battle.
Both means, the ship — laden with chests of emeralds and about 200 tons of gold — sank with most of its crew whereas heading again from the New World to Spain on June 7, 1708.
In Could 2024, Colombia declared the site of the shipwreck a “protected archeological space.”
Daniela Vargas / Antiquity 
