KEY WEST — Mel Fisher’s Shipwreck Expeditions has recovered a 22.5-pound silver bar from the wreck of the Nuestra Señora de Atocha off Key West, the first silver bar the team has brought up from the historic site since June 1999.
The recovery was made June 13 by Captain Drake and the crew of the salvage vessel DARE while working in approximately 50 feet of water. After investigating a target, the team uncovered the artifact, which Captain Drake personally brought to the surface.
Gary Randolph, president of Mel Fisher’s Shipwreck Expeditions, said the find emphasizes that the Atocha continues to yield important artifacts more than four decades after the company’s landmark discoveries began.
“This discovery is a powerful reminder that the Atocha still holds secrets after decades of salvage,” Randolph said. “Captain Drake, Lead Diver Blake and the crew of the DARE continue the legacy of Mel Fisher’s ‘Today’s the Day’ spirit. Every discovery like this advances our understanding of maritime history while fueling the sense of adventure and exploration that has defined this work in the Florida Keys for generations.”
The silver bar remains heavily encrusted with marine growth after more than 400 years beneath the sea. One clearly visible feature is an assay scoop — a small section removed from the top of the bar during the Spanish colonial period to confirm it was solid silver throughout rather than plated.
The Nuestra Señora de Atocha sank during a hurricane in 1622 while carrying an enormous cargo of silver, gold, emeralds from Colombia’s Muzo mines and other valuables bound for Spain. Mel Fisher’s team located the vessel’s legendary mother lode in 1985 after a 16-year search, widely regarded as one of the most significant treasure recoveries in modern history.
Since the 1985 discovery, thousands of artifacts have been recovered from the Atocha and Santa Margarita wreck sites. Substantial portions of the cargo remain unrecovered, however, including hundreds of silver bars and thousands of silver coins.
Randolph noted that several promising magnetic targets have already been identified in the immediate area where the bar was found. The discovery has renewed interest in the location and raised hopes that additional silver bars, coins and other historically notable artifacts may still be buried nearby.
The silver bar is currently aboard the DARE and is expected to arrive at the Mel Fisher conservation laboratory in Key West in the coming days. Conservators there will conduct high-resolution photography, conservation treatment, X-ray fluorescence analysis and other scientific examinations to document and preserve the artifact while revealing any additional markings or historical details.
Treasure Coast residents and visitors can see other spectacular Atocha artifacts on public display at the Mel Fisher’s Treasure Museum at 1322 U.S. Highway 1 in Sebastian. The family-owned museum features many of the most significant items recovered from the 1622 Spanish fleet wrecks and remains a popular local attraction for history enthusiasts and families alike.