Year of Object(s) Creation:
Estimated Value ($USD): 500,000,000
Object Type(s): Coin
Object Material(s): copper, gold, metal, silver, tin
Provenience Nation: Spain
Provenience Location: Bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, 100 miles west of the Straits of Gibraltar
Year Removed from Findspot: 2007

Provenance
Start Year: 2012
End Year:
Circumstance of Acquisition: The Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. filed for legal title to the shipwreck and coins, but Spain also claimed it; the US District Court endorsed Spain's position, and the coins were returned to Spain
Nation: Spain
Location:
Start Year: 2007
End Year: 2012
Circumstance of Acquisition: Found via exploration and archaeological recovery operations of the Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc.
Nation: United States
Location:

Coins from shipwreck of the Spanish Royal Navy Frigate Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes


Description:
The original Spanish Royal Navy Frigate voyage was loaded with 900,000 silver pesos, 5,809 golden pesos, and about 2,000 copper and tin ingots. In 1804, it sank in combat with a British squadron. In 2007, the exploration operations from the Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. recovered 595,000 coins.

Case Status: Object(s) relinquished
Year Claim Initiated: 2007
Year Claim Resolved: 2012
Means of Resolution: Litigation

Complainant Name: Spanish Government
Complainant Nation: Spain
Complainant Nation Economy: Developed
Complainant Type: Public: Government

Respondent Name: Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc.
Respondent Nation: United States
Respondent Nation Economy: Developed
Respondent Type: Private: Institution

Reference Links:

Files:

Editor's Notes:
Status: Ready for Review Edited by Keli Fisher