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1588 Spanish Galleon Wreck

Investigation of and recovery of treasures from a Spanish Galleon

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1588 Spanish Galleon Wreck

1588 Spanish Galleon Wreck

1588 Spanish Galleon Wreck

1588 Spanish Galleon Wreck

1588 Spanish Galleon Wreck

Investigation of and recovery of treasures from a Spanish Galleon

Investigation of and recovery of treasures from a Spanish Galleon

Investigation of and recovery of treasures from a Spanish Galleon

Investigation of and recovery of treasures from a Spanish Galleon

Matthew French
Matthew French
Matthew French
Matthew French
1 Campaign |
Oban, United Kingdom
$18 USD $18 USD 2 backers
0% of $480,186 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

The goal

In 1588 a Spanish Armada wreck sank off the coast of Scotland and I have the license to investigate and recover all treasures and am raising funds to enable this exploration. I have already undertaken surveys and investigations on this wreck to give us its position. I am now looking for funds to go and recover what is in it. Contemporaneous records talk about the value of the wreck’s contents being 30,000,000.

I am seeking £390,000 to investigate the wreck and recover the treasure from within.

The history

In 1588, the King of Spain sent what was then the largest fleet ever amassed to invade England. The English fleet stopped the Spanish from invading, but bad weather then scattered the fleet and they were forced to sail all the way round the north of Scotland and Ireland with only a few making it back to Spain. One ship staggered into a sheltered bay in Scotland where it remained for several months until there was an explosion on board which sank it. The ship was carrying several treasures and these were stored in the part of the ship that did not explode.

Picture of a cannon ball from the wreck site.

The remains of the wreck remained visible on the seabed until about 1700 after which it disappeared below the seabed. Before it did, Archibald Miller recovered at least one bronze cannon (a sure sign of the importance of the ship) and saw, but could not reach, a crown. In those days, ‘diving’ consisted of being lowered in a barrel. We know that none of the real treasure was recovered from this wreck before it disappeared below the seabed.

How will the money be spent?

The money will fund the team of divers and investigators who will work to uncover the wreck (lying about ten feet below the seabed). We will use a team of divers instead of robots as only humans can do what is necessary. The advantage to the wreck lying under the mud, is that it has prevented others from finding the wreck and recovering its treasure.

What is the benefit for the investor?

This wreck is privately owned and the treasure will be sold at Sotheby’s of London who are contracted to do this and to safeguard everything brought up. The benefit of investing in this project is the historical value of recovering sixteenth century Spanish treasure, a chance to own some of it and a substantial financial reward. The reward is based on a sliding scale depending on how much is found and realised at sale and can be as much as 150% after the initial investment has been repaid.

My background

My background is an underwater map maker, oceanographer and wreck investigator. During my career I have found and investigated many wrecks both ancient and modern steel ones, including in the Falkland Islands, the Caribbean, the deep mid-Atlantic (5,000 metres down) and many around UK waters. My team of divers and researcher also has 20+ years of research into ancient and modern wrecks.

I hope that you will be part of this exciting and historic project that should also produce you substantial financial benefit as well.

Please help spread the word about this exciting and historic project


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