Florida: Stolen Gold Coins Worth Over a Million Dollars Recovered Gradually with FBI Assistance

To find this true national treasure, the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission is apparently ready to move heaven and earth.

101 gold coins from the 18th century

According to a press release issued on November 26 by the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) local authorities reportedly found 37 pieces of the 50 missing, initially belonging to a treasure discovered in 2015 and stolen by a family, the Schmitts.

Some members of this family actually work as rescue operators. As part of their duties, they discovered treasure among the shipwrecks off Florida's Treasure Coast. In total, their loot included 101 gold coins dating from the beginning of the 18th century.

Half of the items were not declared

However, not all of these found pieces were reported to the competent authorities, according to an investigation by the FWC, in collaboration with the FBI and following the appearance of new evidence in June 2024. Eric Schmitt, one family members, was therefore suspected of having sold these pieces between 2023 and 2024. The evidence was collected thanks to digital analyzes and the geolocation of Eric Schmitt.

Equipped with search warrants, investigators managed to recover the pieces exhibited at auctions or kept in private residences and safes. Thus, five coins were recovered from an auctioneer, three others were found in a hiding place at the bottom of the ocean… There are now 13 coins lost in nature.

A million dollar treasure

For Camille Soverel, FWC investigator, this case clearly reflects the importance of Florida's cultural heritage. To authenticate and evaluate the recovered objects, the FCW also surrounded itself with experts in historic preservation. If Eric Schmitt succumbed to the temptation to steal and sell these pieces, it is because they have a very high value: the treasure as a whole is estimated at more than a million dollars.

This fleet dating from 1715 belongs to a fleet of Spanish ships that ran aground off the coast of Florida due to a hurricane. Supposed to bring gold from the “new world” to Spain, all the wealth sank with the ships.

All items found and recovered from these boats are governed by state and federal laws. They must be declared, authenticated, and potentially returned to their legitimate owners if possible.

Source: LiveScience