Posted on 06/26/2011 4:09:06 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A crew from Mel Fisher's Treasures found the 10-karat emerald piece on Thursday
The famed Atocha shipwreck site in the Florida Keys coughed up another treasure Thursday when salvagers said they discovered a 10-karat emerald ring initially valued at $500,000.
A crew with historic salvagers Mel Fisher's Treasures found the ornately carved gold ring while searching for the long-lost sterncastle of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha, which sank off the Keys during a hurricane in 1622.
The ring was found with two silver spoons and two other silver-encrusted artifacts about 35 miles west of Key West, within 300 feet of where a gold rosary and gold bar were found in April.
"It is exciting because we are moving into virgin territory, an area of the Atocha Trail that has never been worked," said vessel captain Andy Matroci in a statement.
Fisher's Treasures has been working the Atocha site since 1969, hauling up approximately $450 million in silver, gold, and emeralds after the wreck and its "mother lode" was first discovered in 1985.
An infamous eight-year legal battle over the treasure with the government ensued before the Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Fisher's favor.
The sterncastle of the Atocha has yet to be found, most likely having been scatered by a second hurricane that hit the area shortly after the ship was driven into a reef in the Dry Tortugas, according to Fisher's website.
The crew of Mel Fisher's Treasures believe that a second major treasure cache is hidden within the missing sterncastle, probably having been stored in the captain's quarters of the ship for safekeeping.
A spokeswoman has said the company will have the ring appraised by an independent party.
It’s gorgeous. The gold looks like it’s 18K at least.
Government is getting to be like a yapping dog that you want to drop kick into the next county.
Leave us alone!
/johnny
This was actually a good outcome. Originally Fisher offered the state of Florida I think 25%. The state said no and went to court in an effort to get more. The court ruled finders keepers and Fishers company got it all
/johnny
Looks like someone needs to trim their nails-!!!
feminine nails = = not a working person’s hands.
I am stunned that Spain has not laid claim to it.
Here comes the state of Florida in 3...2...1... to claim it.
I am stunned that Spain has not laid claim to it.
I actually met Mel back in the 80’s. Is he still alive?
Woman with man hands?
ALL humans need to keep their nails trimmed- keeps from slicing up intimate interactors-!!!
WTF!? Hairy thumb and one groomed nail? Is that a chick or a confused dude?
Wow!....just.....wow!!!!!
“Government is getting to be like a yapping dog that you want to drop kick into the next county.”
Amen!
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Treasure hunting is so cool.
I just hope the Fisher family gets to keep it and not the government. The Fishers have paid a high price already over the years for it.
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