1715 fleet treasure bust

Official statement regarding theft case:

1715 fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC was shocked and disappointed by this theft and has worked closely with law enforcement and the state of Florida regarding this matter. The recovered coins are now going through the proper process for legal adjudication.

1715 Fleet – Queen’s Jewels LLC is the U.S. District Courts’ custodian and exclusive salvaging company of the historic 1715 Treasure Fleet. We take our responsibilities as custodian very seriously and will always seek to enforce the laws governing these wrecks.
Seems like a statement that a damage control agency produced.

At this juncture they needed something to reassure investors, as well as all the agencies that are looking at the situation.
I certainly would be asking some hard and difficult questions.
 

Does your dive suit have a back flap, like a pair of overalls?
Of course not. I'm not a true criminal. But I admit that it would have been interesting to be an international jewel or art thief back in the glory days from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s. But if "dive fashion" ever becomes a thing, someone might be able to capitalize on the keister flap.:laughing7:
 

Old Crow is not familiar with business model.

Mel Fisher's company, Mel Fisher's Treasures, sold the rights to the 1715 Fleet shipwreck to Queens Jewels, LLC. Who in turn lease out areas for contractors who pay a fee for a lease? Who are bankrolled by investors?

Crow
 

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Old Crow is not familiar with business model.

Mel Fisher's company, Mel Fisher's Treasures, sold the rights to the 1715 Fleet shipwreck to Queens Jewels, LLC. Who in turn lease out areas for contractors who pay a fee for a lease? Who are bankrolled by investors?

Crow
Pretty much how it works....unless you have your own capital and don't need the investor part of the equation.
 

Pretty much how it works....unless you have your own capital and don't need the investor part of the equation.
Do investors typically participate for one season at a time? As I recall, that was the Fisher Model to avoid SEC regulations.

I wrote an article about investing in sunken treasure hunting some time ago - some parts of the business probably haven't changed.

I recall one of your posts from a year or two ago that outlined what it took to be a successful diver or other participant. Most interesting.

Good luck to all,

The Old Bookaroo
 

Of course not. I'm not a true criminal. But I admit that it would have been interesting to be an international jewel or art thief back in the glory days from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s. But if "dive fashion" ever becomes a thing, someone might be able to capitalize on the keister flap.:laughing7:
M2: It certainly was not my intention to suggest you are a criminal - true or otherwise.
 

I'm not clear on how they knew 50 coins were stolen. Isn't each coin tagged and logged. If these coins weren't tagged and logged, how did they know there were 50 of them. Did they steal tagged and logged coins, didn't turn them in?
 

M2: It certainly was not my intention to suggest you are a criminal - true or otherwise.
No offense taken at all. I don't have the "criminal mindset", but international jewel or art thief has a tux/hot chick glamour vibe to it. On the other hand, sunken treasure/shipwreck criminal has the thrill seeker/daredevil vibe to it. What is being described for this salting business sounds more like a common grift. Very pedestrian, and way below what the field should have to deal with. In the sunken treasure business it should be a crime like piracy when someone waylays the treasure as it's being returned to Spain. I'm sure most people could get behind that if it happened.
 

I'm not clear on how they knew 50 coins were stolen. Isn't each coin tagged and logged. If these coins weren't tagged and logged, how did they know there were 50 of them. Did they steal tagged and logged coins, didn't turn them in?
"Loose lips sink ships.."
 

That explains a few things... there has been an investigation going on, it wasn't just my imagination.
 

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