MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gold chain found off Key West; could belong to 17th century Spanish galleon

The 40-inch chain with an enamelled gold cross may be worth 250.000 US dollars

Divers from Mel Fisher's Treasures in Key West, extreme south Florida, have recovered an antique gold chain believed to be from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, which sank during a 1622 hurricane. In 1985, these same treasure hunters had previously found more than 450 million US dollars in artefacts from the wreck.

Experts are evaluating the 40-inch chain, believed to be centuries old, and which may be worth as much as 250,000 US dollars. The divers were searching for a part of the 17th century Spanish galleon that has not yet been found when they made the discovery.

According to reports the chain has 55 links and holds an enamelled gold cross and a two-sided religious medal with the Virgin Mary and a chalice engraved on it. If it is indeed from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, add another quarter of a million to the total booty for the Fisher crew.

“The Atocha treasure includes forty tons of silver and gold”, mostly in coins denominated as gold “eight pieces”, emeralds, bracelets and at least a thousand silver bars, according to the Mel Fisher Treasures website.

Nuestra Señora de Atocha was on her way to Spain and according to a copy of the manifest in Sevilla she was transporting 24 tons of silver, 180.000 gold and silver coins, 582 copper ingots, 125 gold bars and discs as well as jewellery and personal goods.

Of the 265 crew when she went down, only five survived: three sailors and two slaves.

The founder of the company “treasure hunter” Mel Fisher died at the age of 76 in 1998 but his family has continued with the enterprise.