FORT PIERCE, Fla. - A Sanford family of treasure hunters has found more than $1 million worth of gold artifacts off the coast of Fort Pierce.
Multiple media outlets reported Monday that boat captain Eric Schmitt and his family made the find June 17 in about 15 feet of water off Fort Pierce.
Brent Brisben is the co-founder of 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels LLC, the company that owns the treasure's salvage rights. He says the items recovered include 51 gold coins and 40 feet of ornate gold chain. Among the findings is a rare coin called a "Royal" that was destined for the King of Spain.
Brisben says the artifacts date from a 1715 maritime tragedy in which 11 Spain-bound galleons laden with treasures from the New World were lost during a hurricane.
