It’s been 40 years since treasure hunter Mel Fisher and his “golden crew” of divers found the mother lode of treasure that was lost in the 1622 shipwreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Atocha.
The discovery in July 1985 revealed $400 million in gold and silver coins, gold bars, silver ingots and emeralds. And the “Atocha coins” became ubiquitous accessories for Key West locals who wear them around their necks like dog tags.
On April 26, a different kind of treasure hunt begins.
Blue Marlin Jewelry, 718 Caroline St., will launch the first-ever islandwide treasure hunt on April 26. The grand prize? An authentic, 8-reale, silver Atocha treasure coin. It comes with a certificate of authenticity and all the associated local street cred.
The jewelry store will begin dropping clues to the coin’s hidden location on its Instagram stories (@bluemarlinjewelry) at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 26.
“An Atocha coin is up for grabs, but only for those who can solve the mystery,” said Blue Marlin owner Armando Gonzalez. “Get ready to embark on an islandwide quest for a piece of the past.”
It took Mel Fisher and his team 16 years to find the treasure from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha. Now, one of the silver coins that was in chest No. 5 when divers found it on the ocean floor is once again waiting to be found.
