Divers with Mel Fisher's Shipwreck Expeditions have recovered a 22.5-pound silver bar from the wreck of the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which sank off Key West, Florida, in 1622. The find marks the first silver bar recovered from the wreck in nearly three decades, with the last such discovery occurring in 1999.
The artifact was found at a depth of approximately 50 feet by crew members operating from the salvage vessel DARE. The team detected a strong signal on a metal detector, which led them to the bar buried under sand and sediment. Captain Drake Nicholas and his crew used an airlift to carefully excavate the object.
Sean Browne, head of investor relations for Mel Fisher's Shipwreck Expeditions, noted that the silver bar was heavily encrusted with marine growth but remained remarkably intact. A distinctive feature of the bar is a small depression on its top surface, which was used to test its purity before it was loaded onto the Atocha in 1622.
The Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank during a hurricane while carrying silver, gold, and emeralds. The shipwreck's main treasure deposit, known as the "Mother Lode," was discovered by Mel Fisher's team in 1985. Since then, the wreck site has yielded hundreds of silver bars, along with gold and silver coins, emeralds, navigational instruments, and other artifacts.
Browne estimated the newly recovered silver bar could be worth between $50,000 and $100,000, though he emphasized its historical significance is far greater than its monetary value. He added that historical records suggest hundreds of silver bars and thousands of other artifacts may still be undiscovered at the Atocha and nearby Santa Margarita wreck sites.
Browne stated that this significant find serves as an exciting reminder that the expedition is active and that remarkable artifacts continue to be uncovered. He indicated that each recovery adds to the historical narrative and helps guide future explorations.
Expedition members were on a celebratory fishing charter with a Pennsylvania family when the discovery was made. Although the focus was a fishing excursion, the team was alerted to the potential find, diverting their efforts to the underwater excavation.