Old Treasure New Blood Paperback – August 27, 2024

In 1715, the Spanish treasure fleet, bound for home, was passing through the Bahama Channel when a hurricane destroyed all of the ships, save one. More than a thousand lives were lost, and seventeen million pesos in registered specie and bullion went to the bottom. This tragedy occurred along a stretch of shore now celebrated as the Treasure Coast of Florida, so named for the vast bounty of gold and silver, which continues to be found there. Three centuries later, Old Treasure New Blood is a review of that disaster with emphasis on the fleet's salvage over the last hundred years. The book contains many first-hand recollections of people involved in the ongoing adventure, more than 20 maps, over 120 photos, and 10 illustrations. An analysis of the coastal venue, the ships involved, and previously unpublished narratives round out the story. At least two of the 1715 Fleet ships seemingly disappeared without a trace and somewhere in the wreckage a parcel of jewelry, especially crafted for Queen Isabella, has yet to be found. Where is it? The hunt continues! Read more