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The $20 Billion Treasures of the San José Wreck Will Soon Be Saved

The San José, a Spanish galleon carrying valuable treasure, has been underwater since 1708, when a naval battle led to its sinking off the coast of Colombia. Now, an effort to recover and preserve the ship's artifacts has been set in motion.

Jack Knudson
ByJack Knudson
Credit: photointruder/Shutterstock

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Of all shipwrecks throughout history, one stands out for its sought-after treasures — sitting at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, the San José galleon contains an estimated $20 billion worth of gold, silver, and emeralds and is aptly dubbed the "holy grail" of shipwrecks. For years, multiple parties have coveted its treasures, becoming embroiled in disputes over ownership of the sunken ship.

As new developments unfold — such as a recent pledge by the Colombian government to retrieve parts of the ship and its goods — historians have taken this opportunity to revisit the galleon’s war-torn past. In doing so, they hope to learn about the stories of the San José's passengers who perished back in 1708.

Exciting news has come to light in recent years regarding recovery of the ship’s items. In 2022, new images of the wreckage were taken by a remotely operated underwater vehicle, showing valuable ...

  • Jack Knudson

    Jack Knudson

    Jack Knudson is an assistant editor for Discover Magazine who writes articles on space, ancient humans, animals, and sustainability, and manages the Planet Earth column of the print issue.

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