Added: Sep 6, 2008

From: MyEarbot

Duration: 3:37

An American company is in the process of determining the value of a haul of sunken treasure, thought to be the biggest ever discovered. Odyssey Marine Exploration says it is examining more than half-a-million coins from the shipwreck as part of a find that could net it around half a billion dollars. The bounty has sparked public interest in the controversial business of treasure hunting vy Odyssey Marine Exploration."Black Swan is the code-name of a secret operation off the coast of Europe which may have discovered the biggest haul of shipwreck treasure ever found.Odyssey won't reveal the identity of the ship, or even when it sank, to avoid giving clues to other treasure hunters. Odyssey will only say it went down in international waters.In the crates are 17 tons of silver and gold coins and other valuables arriving in the U.S., destined for a secret location.Mark Gordon, from Odyssey Marine Exploration, says an expert in 17th century coins estimated the value of the haul. "He looked at a representative sample of the coins and in amongst the group that he saw he was able to determine that there were values ranging from $400 to $4,000 for individual coins, and the mean value of the group that he looked at was about $1,000," says Gordon.Those crates could hold about half a billion dollars. In the U.S., a big media splash about the "Black Swan" hoard has triggered a new fascination in pirate ships and treasure.Odyssey estimates there are some three million shipwrecks worldwide. The company combs the seabed using a special underwater vessel: operating it costs $35,000 a day.If treasure is found, the company determines if anyone may have a claim to it -- unlikely in the case of a pirate-ship -- then petitions a U.S. court to get ownership.Odyssey is the only publicly traded treasure-hunting company in the U.S., but the business is unpredictable. It reported a net loss of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2007.Critics, such as the Institute of Field Archaeologists, accuse private companies like Odyssey of "ransacking" shipwrecks for profit. And Odyssey is in a legal wrangle with the Spanish government over the Black Swan treasure. Spain says it might be one of their galleons that went down in its territorial waters.But Odyssey says it will press on with its work - and has even teamed up with the Walt Disney Corporation to cater to the public appetite for sunken treasure.

Channel: News

Tags: black  bounty  exploration  marine  odyssey  sea  shipwreck  swan  treasure 

Rating: 4.58 (12 ratings)    Views: 22706' favoriteCount='34    Comments: 30

Dub665 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Let Me Say One Thing Woooooooooooo Were Rich.

dougpeerless Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - I'll bet a £1000 i know the name of the ship. they've code named "Black Swan". If it is then the "haul" belonged to a trading company, well part of it did the res was to pay for a war.

dougpeerless Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Also why do people have to petition a US court? seems to me they're more likely to see in favour of an American company.

bentpreacher Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Thats almost as retarded as the Spanish Government trying to lay claim to it. the ship is the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes. A spanish ship that went down in the 1800's. That of course is Irrelevant. If it was in spanish territorial waters thats one thing. But considering it is not, the Spanish have zero legitimate claim to it. The finders get the treasure. The spanish are just mad they didn't have the tech or the ability to find it themselves. Pretty open and shut.

Assy84 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - typical commentary of someone that lives in a country with no history to preserve. I'm spanish AND I FEEL ofended with all of this, ¿spanish historical patrimony destined to be sold and dispersed around the globe by a foreign company? come on. We dont care if it was sunk yesturday or 200 years ago, it's spanish, same as it's tripulation that probably died btw, and crafted by spaniards.

bentpreacher Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Yes, The same Spanish That killed, raped and looted their way across South and Central America with their Conquistadors. The treasure came from Spanish CONQUESTS, correct? Scientific analysis could tell you that the treasure originated in Latin America and NOT SPAIN. Realistically, location of the find is EVERYTHING! The Spanish Empire is gone, thank the British! I do! You can dog America all you want, Spain has a Far more damning and evil past than America does today...

gamer1st Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - sorry mate i wasnt having a go at americans,i think you guys are great i really do.i was just making a lighthearted joke about the spanish an english having all these wars over treasures an stuff then someone else comes along an grabs the loot lol.but you are right in what you say.

bentpreacher Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - No problem. I get tired of all the "greedy Americans"this, and "evil Americans" that. I have pretty thick skin, but sometimes get annoyed. I for one think that anything like this happens in the future, it must be a "world" court that decides. Of course U.S. courts could show "bias" towards the Americans. Then again so would any nation really. 500 million is alot of duckets!! I am surprised FAR more nations, etc. haven't tried to put a claim on it, I would!

Assy84 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - "Spain has a Far more damning and evil past than America does today"are u sure m8? just count north american natives and south american... north american could be exposed in a small museum, wat happened in north america was a genocide, whilst spaniards mixed up with natives. sure there was bloodshed but uncomparable.so please don't speak about whose worse, since your country is right now commiting outrageous crimes in the middle east.summing vietnam, atomic bombs.. america wins by much.

bentpreacher Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Oh please, you just know more about American nastiness because this is the information age. Far worse was done in the past, but thats the thing, its the past. Much like spains claim to a ship lost centuries ago. Good luck doing more than "claiming" the ship. Americans and their government are 2 separate things. like night and day. Much like the worlds perception of Americans in the media vs the actual truth.

iolca Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Spaniards claiming the ship? they are pathetic. They stole that from the americas so that belong to the americas.

cocacola443 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - I heard about this on the radio, since Spain apparently figured out it used to be their ship. The government official speaking said it would be like "going to Gettysburg and picking the cuff links and wallets from corpses" or "robbing the site of the Arizona.Maybe he doesn't realize that those two examples ARE NOT IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS, while this load of gold is. Finders keepers, that's what I say. Isn't that what the Spanish said when they stole it from Latin America?

Assy84 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - I'm accusing american gov all the time, not citizens.If ur talking about THE PAST don't forget it is YOUR PAST also. Not so long ago your grand parents made the journey to america so you are AS guilty of ancestral european wars. If you are refering to wars that date from 200 years or so onwards then I simply don't share your opinion.

dkrustyklown Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Whether or not it is in international waters is irrelevant.It is not, "finders keepers" as you say, since in 1902 the United States and Spain signed a treaty that clearly state that shipwrecks belonging to each nation remain the sole property of each nation regardless of where they are located.Case history-search: Sea Hunt Inc. Vs Kingdom of SpainSea Hunt salvaged the Spanish shipwreck "Juno" WITHIN VIRGINIA TERRITORIAL WATERS, but Spain sued and won because of this 1902 treaty.

dkrustyklown Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - You people need to do a little research on maritime law before you comment:A Spanish ship is a Spanish ship is a Spanish ship regardless of where it is at.Ask Sea Hunt...they salvaged a Spanish ship IN US TERRITORIAL WATERS

dkrustyklown Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - oops, hit tab and then enter prematurely...Ask Sea Hunt Inc.They salvaged a Spanish ship in US territorial waters just off the coast of Virginia and they got the living hell sued out of them by the Spanish government.There is a treaty called: 1902 Treaty of Friendship and General Relations between the United States and Spain.This treaty clearly states that shipwrecks remain the property of their original owner regardless of where the ship ends up.

dkrustyklown Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - bentpreacherUm, you must not be familiar with case history here.Spain has always won these suits. Why? Well, back in 1902 the US signed a treaty with Spain that leaves no room for interpretation.Spain will get its gold, and the King promises to split the loot with the Government of Peru.w00t! Go Spain!

cocacola443 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Well, that's a valid argument, but not the one I heard by NPR and the Prime Minister of Spain. Your argument is far, far better than his was. No mention of the treaty was made on the show I heard.I retract my earlier argument in the event of the existence of such a treaty. Otherwise, it's still finder's keepers. :)

TheSpanishRSlandered Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - The treasure belongs to Spain fuckin stealers.

alexo250 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - the GOLD belongs to PERU!!

alexo250 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - spain stole silver and gold fron PERU!

hipstarchild Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - Oooh arhhhh shiver me timbers.

twylerroker1 Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - its all americas were pirates im jack sparrow bitch

ptitceltic Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - so basically american can steal and appropriate anything because it is business? the treaty is indeed a good thing, but US will always find a way to break it. In the name of their so-called interest for History.Repulsive and ultra-liberal....Why shouldn't we do the same in US water for a change? after all "finder's keeper right?

kimhalim Says:

Sep 6, 2008 - All of a sudden i wanna be a tresure hunter. Too bad most of it will be gone when im older. Infact im still suprised there are these big hauls left.