Posted on 09/03/2013 1:34:06 PM PDT by BenLurkin
You have to get a permit to hunt for treasure and it is not an activity that is easy to hide. There may even have been a State archeologist assigned to the ship.
I live on the Treasure Coast so named because of the 1715 wreck. I even had a coin from that wreck made into a ring at one time.
If we’re reading about it, the IRS knows too, plus the heirs to the Spanish owners.
They are probably sub leasing from him.
I’ve been lucky enough to see some of the coins and artifacts from the Atocha wreck. One of the most beautiful items was a gold chain where each link was carved into a flower.
Just why would you tell anyone? The various governments are thieves.
They were so classified.
“U.S. court backs Spain over $500M sea treasure”
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/01/world/europe/spain-u-s—treasure-dispute/
[smurfle] "One for me, one for the government, one-two for me, one for the government, one-two-three . . ."
I used to know a guy who was a high powered investments facilitator. Basically, he pitched business plans to folks with verrrrry deep pockets, and sold them on investing in start up companies.
Anyway, he told me that he knew one such investor who got his start by accidentally stumbling upon a cache of old Indian gold in the Arizona desert.
As he told it, the guy and his wife were out exploring one day, when he spotted an unusual hole in the ground. When he shined his flashlight inside, he saw what looked like a tomb. After managing to rope his way down into it, he found that it was indeed an ancient burial chamber with priceless artifacts inside it.
The guy and his wife took a haul of items that day, and later sold them to a collector for a lot of money. Apparently, it was so much money, that this guy and his wife soon made a living off quietly selling their finds to private individuals.
Per my buddy, the guy never told a soul where his find was located, though he did share the secret of how he got his start with a few trusted friends.
Definitely wouldn’t melt it down. Worth much more unmelted, but I’d probably reveal one doubloon at a time... “Yes, you see, officer, I was fishing for swordies and the riggin’ knocked my gun overboard. I lunged, reaching for it, hoping to grab it before it went in the drink. But alas, matey, I was too late and as I looked down into that water all doleful and sad, this waterlily came floatin’ by and what should be nestled in the center of that lily but this here doubloon. Yessir, that’s the truth. No sir, I haven’t been salvaging any shipwrecks. So Spain can’t claim it; it was floating on the surface of the water, just as I explained.” oslt
$300,000 to start.
The State takes 20% off the top. This leaves $240,000.
They split it 50/50 with the rights owner. This leaves $120,000.
Federal Taxes will take about 40% of that.
They end up with about $70k. Before expenses.
Not a bad days work, but I am sure they have been at this more than a day or two....And there is no indication of how many are in this family.
So...not a bad way to make a living, as long as you find this type of gold cluster every couple of months (as they did in July.)
Note: this topic is from 9/03/2013. Thanks BenLurkin.
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