Shipwreck treasure discovered in just 15 of water

1715 wreck provides more gold

After nearly a lifetime of searching one family has finally uncovered their pot of gold, literally.

Just 150 yard offshore and in only 15 feet of water, 65 year old Rick Schmitt and his family found over $300,000 in treasure.

"This is like the end of a dream," Schmitt told the Orlando Sentinel.

It’s not the first find for Rick and his family, but it is the biggest.

Among the finds were a 63 foot gold chain, a gold ring, and various coins, all from 11 Spanish ships that sank in a 1715 hurricane on Florida’s “Treasure Coast.”

Schmitt’s son Eric came across a silver platter in 2002. It turns out the platter was 300 years old and worth a cool $25,000.

The state of Florida will get 20% of the treasure and the family will share the rest with the company that holds salvage rights.

More here.