US to repatriate Spanish treasure

The transfer of 17 tons of shipwreck treasure wrestled away from deep-sea explorers by the Spanish government will be made later this week from a US Air Force base in Florida, officials confirmed.

Experts have speculated it could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history

MacDill Air Force Base said in a statement that it is cooperating with Spanish government officials in the transfer of the 594,000 silver coins and other artefacts that were brought to the surface off the Portuguese coast and flown back to Tampa by Odyssey Marine Exploration in May 2007.

“The US Air Force has an excellent relationship with the Spanish Air Force and we are working closely with them to ensure a safe and secure mission,” said the brief statement, which added that Spain is sending two C-130 transport planes to haul the cargo.

The statement provided a glimpse into the handling of the secrecy-shrouded transfer of the treasure, which at the time of its recovery from the ocean was estimated to be worth around $500 million to collectors.

Experts have speculated it could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history.

The treasure is believed to be from the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes, a Spanish galleon that was sunk in 1804 by British warships in the Atlantic Ocean while sailing back from South America. More than 200 people were aboard the ship when it sunk.

Citing security concerns, no one has spoken on the timing of moving the coins, but James Goold, a Washington lawyer who represented the Spanish government told a federal judge last week the items would be taken out of the secure facility where they have been stored and on their way to Spain by tomorrow.