Sunken Treasure Brings $1.6 Million

Daniel Frank Sedwick recently conducted a live, on-line auction of treasures recovered from sunken ships. Total bids amounted to more than $1.6 million. Some of the highest priced items, like a gold Escudo Mexican cob dated 1709, sold for $46,000. There were more than 70 other gold Escudos on the block along with hundreds of silver cobs and minted coins.

“We exceeded our goal of reaching a million in sales by a big margin,” Dan Sedwick said. “We offered the finest known specimen of a Panama 4 Reale that sold for $22,425.”

Dan follows in his late father’s footsteps. Frank Sedwick, considered an authority on Spanish colonial mintage, authored ‘The Practical Book of Cobs.’ The book has gone through many editions with his son Dan as co-author. The book remains a standard reference in the field.

Sedwick’s sixth sunken treasure auction, this latest event produced the highest bid results so far. A gold cross with six emeralds recovered from the fleet that sank off Florida’s coast in 1715, fetched $23,575. A silver bar, that weighed more than 91 pounds, recovered from the galleon Atocha brought $27,600.

The Sedwick auction catalogs are becoming collectors’ items themselves. The full color, large format catalogs contain historical information about shipwrecks and excellent photographs of each lot offered for sale. For coin collectors the auction results coupled with precise descriptions of the coins and artifacts along with their pictures offer valuable information to help identify unknown finds.

The next Sedwick sunken treasure auction will be held in April 2010. Consignments will be accepted until January 31. For any interested in Spanish colonial history, shipwrecks and numismatics the auction can be followed on line live or advance bids can me mailed or faxed. For more information visit Sedwick’s website or call them at 407-975-3325.

Author/photographer John Christopher Fine is a marine biologist and expert in marine and maritime affairs. Dr. Fine has authored 24 books, most about ocean and environmental issues. He holds the highest licenses as a Master Scuba Instructor and Instructor Trainer.