Five Amazing Underwater Finds That Turned Explorers into Millionaires
The ocean is rich with numerous organisms that scientists keep discovering. But beyond that, the seabed holds significant riches, mostly from shipwrecks. While some of those treasures remain lost, we explore five fascinating and verified underwater treasures excavated over the years, yielding money and valuable artifacts.
Hội An Shipwreck
Between 1993 and 1994, fishermen in the Hoi An area of Vietnam hauled antique ceramics while fishing. By 1997, a government-backed excavation of the area led to the discovery of around 250,000 pots aboard a shipwreck. While the government kept a portion in museums, around 90% were auctioned.
SS North Carolina Shipwreck
On July 25, 1840, the SS North Carolina collided with her sister ship. While no lives were lost, the ship’s gold coins and other valuables cargo remained sunken. Although an excavation in the 1990s salvaged around $700,000 worth of coins, a second excavation was ordered in 2019.
1715 Treasure Fleet
Two Spanish fleets returning home with treasure in 1715 never made it home. Unfortunately, all 11 ships were destroyed by a hurricane off the coast of Florida. While the rights to the shipwrecked ships changed hands several times, a 2015 excavation yielded around $4.5 million in gold coins.
Apollo 11 Engines
In 1969, Apollo 11 launched Neil Armstrong into space, making him the first man to walk on the moon. While the engines that made that spaceflight possible dropped to the Atlantic Ocean floor, a 2013 site excavation yielded engine parts currently displayed in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Eureka Gold Ingot
In 1857, the SS Central America was sunk by a hurricane off the South Carolina coast. Among the items lost that day were 7,000 coins and an 80-lb gold ingot nicknamed ‘Eureka.’ In 2002, it was sold to an unnamed business executive for $8 million, or $14 today, adjusted for inflation.
