Mel Fisher, Treasure Hunter
Mel Fisher (August 21, 1922 – December 19, 1998) was an American treasure hunter best known for finding the 1622 wreck of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha named after a shrine in Madrid for protection. He discovered the wreck July 20, 1985. The estimated $450 million cache recovered, known as “The Atocha Motherlode,” included 40 tons of gold and silver. There were some 100,000 of the Spanish silver coins known as “pieces of eight,” gold coins, Columbian emeralds, gold and silver artifacts, and 1000 silver bars.
More about this find follows the video of Mel Fisher below.
Large as it was, this was only roughly half of the treasure that went down with the Atocha. The wealthiest part of the ship, the stern castle, has yet to be found. Still missing are 300 silver bars and 8 bronze cannons, among other things.



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