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| Hercules loading treasure (Photo: abc.es) |
Treasure expected to arrive tomorrow at Torrejón base in Madrid
TAMPA, Florida USA Having lost all the legal appeals available to it, Odyssey Marine Exploration finally relinquished the treasure it found supposedly in the wreckage of the Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, which was sunk by the British Navy in 1804 ('Witjhout prior declaration of war' according to one Spanish source). The treasure, mostly of gold and silver coins from the Americas and valued at well over €500million, was loaded onto two Spanish Air Force Hercules C-130 cargo planes this morning. Aside from the 594,000 coins, there are also metal fragments, cannon balls (some of which may well have been made in Jimena!), as well as ingots of copper and tin, as well as other artifacts - all in 'diverse state of repair', according to a representative of Spain's Ministry of Culture in Tampa to check the treasure.>>>
