On July 31,
1715, a fleet of Spanish treasure ships was cast upon the reefs and beaches of Florida's
east coast between Fort Pierce and Sebastian Inlet. On board and lost to the sea were vast
amounts of gold, silver and jewelry with precious gems, being carried back to Spain.
Recovery attempts were made by the Spanish and pirate raiders, but much remained and the
wrecks were eventually forgotten. Today, the beaches and waters still yield
"pieces-of-eight" and gold "doubloons" that were the pirate's
"booty" of the period.
On this page you will
find links to just such booty. One reale, Two reales, Four reales and Eight reales. Each
of the following Spanish cobs were hand made and bear testimony of the tempest, tragedy
and death at sea, nearly 280 years ago.
To read the story of the 1715 Treasure Fleet,
the Hurricane, the Loss and eventual Discover, read HRD, Inc's 1715
Disaster Story.
