Treasure hunters have recovered a 22.5-pound silver bar from the wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a Spanish galleon that sank in a hurricane off the Florida Keys in 1622. This marks the first silver bar of its kind to be found at the site in nearly 30 years.
Divers with Mel Fisher’s Shipwreck Expeditions, operating from the salvage vessel DARE, located the bar in approximately 50 feet of water near Key West. The discovery was made after a metal detector registered a strong signal, according to Sean Browne, head of investor relations for the expedition. Crew members used an airlift to remove sand and sediment, gradually exposing the encrusted artifact.
Despite being heavily encrusted with marine growth, the silver bar remained remarkably intact. A distinctive feature is a small depression on its top surface, which was used to test its purity before it was loaded onto the galleon. The bar is currently undergoing conservation.
The Nuestra Señora de Atocha was carrying a vast treasure of silver, gold, and emeralds when it sank. The wreck's main treasure deposit, known as the "Mother Lode," was discovered by Mel Fisher's team in 1985. Since then, artifacts including silver and gold coins, emeralds, weaponry, and navigational instruments have been recovered from the Atocha and the nearby Santa Margarita wreck sites.
Browne estimated the newly discovered silver bar could be worth between $50,000 and $100,000, though he emphasized its historical significance. He added that historical records suggest hundreds of silver bars and thousands of coins still lie within the wreck sites. The expedition continues its search, with the crew recovering three silver coins in a single day in late June, reinforcing the belief that significant discoveries are still possible.