FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A Florida salvage company says they've found about $350,000 worth of gold off the coast of Fort Pierce. The company, Booty Salvage, based in Central Florida, posted pictures of the gold on their Facebook page. Items include necklaces and gold coins. Eric Schmitt is part of the Fort Pierce Booty Salvage treasure diving crew. "It was a lot of emotion. The first was excitement followed by a lot of almost crying," Schmitt told WPTV5.
He and his crew found the remnants of a 17th century Spanish ship right off the Florida coast. They say they've been searching for a find like this. "It's one of the larger finds that's been made on this coast in a very long time," said Schmitt. He said the gold was found just 1,000 feet off the coast of Fort Pierce. The group found 70 to 80 feet of gold chains and four escudo coins that date back to 1700s Peru. On Monday, the crew found a coin which would even typically be enough to make their entire season. They estimate the single coin is worth more than $30,000. But for Schmitt, the deep sea search isn't only about striking it rich. It's about the history. It's who wore this, the respect for the person who was in the New World and had this made. It was probably his entire life savings," said Schmitt. The group says after this lucky weekend, the gold buys them some peace of mind and motivation. "We're going to keep doing the same things we did, just with a lot bigger smiles," said Schmitt. Their findings this weekend will be split with their contractor. Twenty percent will be donated to the state to be displayed.
In another report it was said: Rich Schmitt of Sanford, owner of Booty Savage, said he and his family went diving during the weekend with friend Dale Zeak and they discovered 64 feet of thin gold chain, five gold coins and a gold ring in the water, the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel reported Tuesday. Brent Brisben, co-founder of 1715 Fleet -- Queens Jewels LLC, which owns the rights to dive on the wreckage site -- said $300,000 is a conservative estimate for the worth of the haul. "To be the first person to touch an artifact in 300 years, is indescribable," Brisben said . "They were there 150 years before the Civil War. It's truly remarkable to be able to bring that back." Booty Salvage is a subcontractor of Brisben's company. The Schmitt family said the gold haul is the largest in their salvaging years. "The greatest treasure is time with the family," said Lisa Schmitt, Rick Schmitt's wife.
Another writer added a bit more to the story - The Schmitt family has spent every day of the last 13 summers searching for gold off the Treasure Coast of Florida. And it looks like their hard work sifting through trash in the Atlantic Ocean has finally paid off: They've just discovered a trove of gold that could be worth more than $300,000. It started with a single gold coin, spotted over the Labor Day weekend by Dale Zeak, a diver and friend of the Schmitt family. Zeak then spotted more coins and gold chains that he saved for 26-year-old Eric Schmitt, who brought them to the surface Sunday. "Eric's the one who picked that spot that day," said his sister, Hillary Schmitt. "It was his turn to bring something up." Eric, who is currently on another dive and could not be reached by phone, shared his experience with Scripps Station WPTV.
"It was a lot of emotion," he said. "The first was excitement followed by a lot of almost ... crying." All told, the family's recent discovery included eight gold chains (weighing about three pounds), five gold coins and a gold ring. It's the biggest find the family has ever made, and they've been doing this a long, long time. Hillary and Eric's father, Rick Schmitt, learned to dive early in life and went on his first treasure hunt when he was a teen. After retiring and selling his pest control business in 1999, Schmitt decided to start a new company, Booty Salvage. "My dad wanted to share that experience with us kids," said Hillary, 20, who has been diving since she was 5 years old. She adds that there's something special about seeing gold for yourself in the water. "We love doing it. It's a family effort. ... Not only are we doing something that's really fun, we get to do it as a family. It's a pretty awesome experience."
The family leaves the dock every day at 7:30 a.m. during the summer. They'll stay out on their boat, "Aarrr Booty," as long as the weather will allow, usually packing up by 5 p.m. to make it in before sunset. The latest haul by the Schmitts is likely from a fleet of Spanish ships that was destroyed by a hurricane while returning from a voyage to Cuba in 1715. All 11 ships in that fleet were wrecked, according to Brent Brisben, owner of the 1715 Treasure Fleet - Queens Jewels. His company has the exclusive rights to salvage the remains of that fleet, and he subcontracts the work to several individuals and families, including the Schmitts. Their find is just one of many made from the fleet since Brisben bought the salvage rights in 2010 at the urging of his dad, who "has been enamored with the allure of treasure most of his life."
Also in 2010, Brisben and his dad discovered a cannon that was stocked with 90 coins (50 gold and 40 silver). Later that year, a mother-daughter team discovered a gold bird, which appraised for more than $800,000. Brisben said the $300,000 estimate he has given for the Schmitt family's treasure is a conservative one. After the state of Florida takes its 20% share, Brisben said he will split the remainder between his company and the Schmitts. The family, however, has no desire to cash in their fortune anytime soon. They plan to hand the treasure down to future generations. "We do not make our living doing this. This is a hobby because, up to this point, we've never found anything like this," said Hillary Schmitt. She added that her family is driven by a shared love for history. She said she hopes their latest find will help them share that love with others.
Read more: http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/schmitt-family-discovers-300000-worth-of-gold-coins-jewerly-off-florida-coast#ixzz2dtPFRcfi
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2013/09/03/Treasure-hunting-family-finds-300K-in-gold/UPI-50081378222859/#ixzz2dt19H3fI
Read more: http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2013/09/03/Treasure-hunting-family-finds-300K-in-gold/UPI-50081378222859/#ixzz2dt0h7WJI
https://www.facebook.com/BootySalvage
As reported By RHEANA MURRAY via Good Morning America on Jul 30, 2014, 1:26 PM ET
Family Strikes Gold on Sunken Treasure Hunt -- Again
A Florida man literally struck gold when he unearthed a "priceless" religious artifact from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
The sunken treasure was discovered at the site of a shipwreck that happened nearly 300 years ago off the coast of Ft. Pierce. It's the missing piece of a necklace that was discovered at the same wreck in 1989.
Called a pyx, the ornate gold trinket is a Spanish artifact used by priests to hold the communion host, Brent Brisben, the operations manager of Queens Jewels, told ABC News.
Treasure-Hunting Family Strikes Gold Off Florida Coast
"We find shipwrecked artifacts on a daily basis, but it's more like ship spikes and musket balls, so when you get an extremely rare, unique piece like this, it's exciting," Brisben said.
He said 27-year-old Eric Schmitt, a professional salvager in Florida, found the piece last month on a scavenging hunt with his family. Last year, he had dug up more than $300,000 worth of gold chains and coins from the same wreckage.
"He found an incredible silver platter when he was 14 years old," Brisben added.
Hunting for buried treasure is the Schmitt's family business. They own Booty Salvage and work for Brisben's company, which owns rights to the wreckage. Brisben also goes on treasure-hunting excursions.
"It's incredibly difficult work," Brisben said. "It's long, it's in the middle of the summer, it's hot. You're in the sun all day. It's quite laborious work, so when you come across an amazing artifact like that, words can't describe it. It's a surreal experience to touch something from 300 years ago, to learn about it, and to share it with the world."
Spanish historians recently discovered what it was and linked it to the artifact dug up 25 years ago. The piece has not been appraised yet, but Brisben called it "priceless."
By law, it is in the custody of the U.S. District Court in South Florida. The state can take possession of up to 20% of Brisben's goods. Proceeds from the rest are split between his company and the Schmitt family.
The shipwreck where it was found is one of the most important in history. Several galleons packed with treasures from the New World left Havana, bound for Spain, and were taken down by a hurricane in 1715.
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