Exhibitions: A Trove Come True

(2 of 2)

Their most spectacular find occurred on May 30, 1965, when the blaster uncovered an area that was, as Wagner put it, "a solid carpet of gold. The coins were lying two and three deep and some were even stacked in piles." All told, in seven summers of diving, the treasure hunters recovered an estimated $3,000,000 worth of jewelry, pottery, artifacts, navigational gear, silver and gold—some of the gold ingots weighing 9 and 10 lbs. apiece. Nor has the gold lost its luster. Last week collectors were happy to pay up to $9,000 for a single gold coin, bid $4,675 for the ten porcelain tea bowls and cups. Top price of $50,000 went to Captain General Ubilla's whistle, with its 2,176-link chain. Given such prices, the Real Eight are not stopping now. Not with eight wrecks yet to be investigated and the Queen's jewels still to be found.