Treasures of sunken ships: List of most valuable findings
What treasures were raised from the seabed (collage: RBC-Ukraine)
The chests full of gold, precious stones, and other treasures - not just a tale from children's books. Such wealth has been repeatedly recovered from the sea depths from the holds of sunken ships by researchers.
Instagram page Violity tells about the largest treasures that researchers have managed to find.
Batu Hitam
The Belitung shipwreck, which sank over 1200 years ago, was only discovered in the late 1990s. It was the largest find of artifacts from the Tang Dynasty in human history, valued at $90 million.
At the bottom of the sea, scientists found gold, ceramics, precious stones, and other valuable artifacts. These discoveries were acquired by the Singaporean government, which later exhibited them at numerous exhibitions.
Discovery from the Batu Hitam shipwreck (photo: News.cn)
Central America
In 1857, this ship was carrying 15 tons of gold to New York. It sank during a storm and, according to experts, this triggered the first global economic crisis.
The ship was discovered in 1988, and its treasures were valued at $150 million. Almost 40 insurance companies then claimed rights to its contents due to losses incurred in the 19th century. Later, one of the gold ingots appeared at an auction and was sold for $8 million.
Holy Republic
In 1865, the ship was en route to New Orleans but sank near Georgia due to a storm. The ship was discovered in 2003. At that time, the value of its treasures was estimated at $180 million.
Approximately 50,000 gold and silver coins were recovered from the sea, along with a vast quantity of valuable artifacts, which are now on display in museums.
During the investigation of the shipwreck remains on the seabed (photo: vsviti.com.ua)
Titanic
The British transatlantic liner sank in 1912. Its wreckage was discovered in 1985, but by then it was clear that the ship itself could not be raised without disintegrating.
Researchers retrieved over 5,000 valuables from the seabed: watches, tableware, jewelry, and other items. These items were sold at auctions for incredible sums. For example, a letter written on the Titanic went under the hammer for $166,000, and a steward's watch fetched $154,000.
First-class passenger tea set (photo: Interfax)
Virgin Mary of Mercy
The Spanish frigate sank near Portugal with a cargo of gold from Spain's American colonies in 1804. The site of the disaster was only discovered in 2007. Researchers found nearly 17 tons of gold and silver in Spanish coins. The treasure's value is almost $500 million.
In 2012, all these treasures were returned to the Spanish government.
Nuestra Señora de Atocha
The Spanish galleon sank in a hurricane in 1622. It was carrying gold and silver ingots weighing over 40 tons, as well as tobacco, copper, weapons, and treasures.
The site of the disaster was discovered in 1985. Treasures worth a total of $450 million were recovered from the seabed. According to researchers' estimates, there are still artifacts underwater worth over $500 million.
A gold ingot raised from the ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha (photo: secondusa.top)
