Eric Schmitt's metal detector got a hit about 15 feet below the ocean's surface, most of the time, the metal detectors uncover beer cans and lead fishing weights. This time, the treasure-hunter struck gold, and a lot of it.

Schmitt and his family found 52 gold coins worth more than $1 million. The Spanish coins were minted in 1715 and are an extremely rare coin known as a ‘Tricentennial Royal’. The coins were known as presentation pieces and not meant for currency.

The coins are in nearly perfect condition and before this find there are only about six known to exist.

The coins were found while diving near Ft. Pierce, Florida. The family has been in the area before, in 2013 they found several pieces of gold chain and last year they found pieces of Eucharist vessel used during Holy Communion.

The storm that struck 300 years ago, when 11 ships were sunk and more than 1,000 people were killed. The hurricane that sunk the fleet hit in July 1715.

 

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