After nearly a decade-long investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recovered 37 gold coins valued at over $1 million, stolen from the historic 1715 Fleet shipwrecks.
The FWC announced Tuesday that the coins, part of a treasure trove discovered in 2015, were stolen shortly after their recovery. The coins are tied to a fleet of Spanish ships that sank off Florida’s eastern coast during a hurricane in 1715 while en route from Havana, Cuba, to Seville, Spain.
Historic Treasure Turned Crime Scene
The first ship from the 1715 Fleet was discovered in 1928 near Fort Pierce, Florida. Since then, the area has yielded numerous gold and silver artifacts, attracting treasure hunters and salvaging operations.
In 2015, contracted salvage operators uncovered 101 gold coins near Florida’s Treasure Coast. However, only 51 were officially reported, while 50 coins went unaccounted for and were subsequently stolen.
Unveiling the Mystery
The breakthrough in the investigation came in June 2024 when new evidence implicated Eric Schmitt, whose family was involved in the original salvage operation. According to the FWC, Schmitt illegally sold several stolen coins in 2023 and 2024.
Using advanced digital forensics, investigators linked Schmitt to photos of the stolen coins taken at his family’s condominium in Fort Pierce. Metadata and geolocation data from electronic devices played a key role in identifying him as a suspect.
Recovery Efforts
Search warrants led to the recovery of coins from private residences, safe deposit boxes, and auction houses. Five of the stolen coins were retrieved from a Florida auctioneer who had unknowingly purchased them from Schmitt.
In a bizarre twist, authorities revealed Schmitt had intentionally placed three stolen coins back on the ocean floor in 2016. These coins were later recovered by the current custodians of the fleet’s artifacts.
The FWC worked closely with historical preservation experts to authenticate and appraise the recovered coins.
Legal and Ethical Fallout
Schmitt now faces charges of dealing in stolen property. The company contracted to salvage the 1715 Fleet, Queens Jewels LLC, expressed disappointment, stating:
“We take our responsibilities as custodian very seriously and will always seek to enforce the laws governing these wrecks.”
Recovered artifacts will be returned to their rightful custodians, though 13 gold coins remain missing.
The investigation continues as authorities work to locate the remaining coins and bring those involved to justice.
