Literature About the 1715 Fleet and the Coins Salvaged

Literature About the 1715 Fleet
and the Coins Salvaged

by Dave Crooks

Introduction
Much has been written about the 1715 Fleet since the wrecks were discovered by Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks.  He ... More and the Real Eight CompanyAlso referred to occasionally as “The Real 8 Company”- was incorporated in 1961. It had eight members….Kip Wagner, Kip Kelso, Dan Thompson, Harry Cannon, Lou Ullian, Del Long, Erv Taylor and Lis... More in 1965. Both popular and scholarly publications have been produced, ranging from articles and pamphlets to full-length books. This list includes the non-scholarly publications which a layman can easily understand. For those that can’t easily go dive on a treasure wreck and recover their own “booty”, reading about it is the next best thing! There’s lots of material here which would appeal to the armchair adventurer or history enthusiast, and most of it is readily available at www.amazon.com or www.abebooks.com.

Allen, W. Frank
History Revealed – Previously Unknown Spanish Gold Coins
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Pamphlet; illustrated
Size: 6” x 9”
Pages: 16
Editions: This pamphlet was reprinted from “The Numismatist” magazine by the American Numismatic Association (1967), in paperback.
Description: This pamphlet tells the story of the discovery of the 1715 Fleet off the east coast of Florida and describes the gold cobs recovered from a numismatic perspective.

Burgess, Robert F. and Carl J. Clausen
Gold, Galleons & Archaeology
ISBN/ISSN: 0672521474
Library of Congress: 76-6080
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet, Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks.  He ... More
Comments: Same book as “Florida’s Golden Galleons” (#C-1680); includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 6” x 9.25”
Pages: 195
Editions: The first edition (First Printing – stated) was published by The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Indianapolis, Indiana (1976), in hardback with a dust jacket. The first paperback edition was published under the title, “Florida’s Golden Galleons” by Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno, Florida (1982), and has a light blue paper cover with a nautical chart on it. This paperback edition is scarce. A second paperback edition (also entitled “Florida’s Golden Galleons”) was published and copyrighted as 1982, but it has a white paper cover with a ship on it. Finally, a third revised (not stated) paperback edition was published with the same identical paper cover and copyright date (1982) as the second paperback edition, except this third edition has 18 chapters and color illustrations (whereas the second edition has 15 chapters and black and white illustrations).
Description: This excellent book tells the story of the sinking and salvage of the 1715 Spanish fleet, which sank in a hurricane off Vero Beach, Florida and spilled millions of dollars in gold, silver and jewels just offshore.
Clausen, Carl J.
A 1715 Spanish Treasure Ship
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Pamphlet; includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 6” x 9”
Pages: 49
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by the University of Florida, Gainesville (1965), in paperback. It is part of a series entitled, “Contributions of the Florida State Museum,” and is Social Sciences Number 12 in the series.
Description: This scholarly pamphlet is primarily an analysis of the artifacts and treasure recovered by Treasure Salvors in 1964 from the “Colored Beach Wreck” of the 1715 Fleet, including armaments, ceramics, ship materials, cultural items, coins, jewelry and specie.
Burgess, Robert F. and Carl J. Clausen
Gold, Galleons & Archaeology
ISBN/ISSN: 0672521474
Library of Congress: 76-6080
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet, Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks.  He ... More
Comments: Same book as “Florida’s Golden Galleons” (#C-1680); includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 6” x 9.25”
Pages: 195
Editions: The first edition (First Printing – stated) was published by The Bobbs-Merrill Co., Indianapolis, Indiana (1976), in hardback with a dust jacket. The first paperback edition was published under the title, “Florida’s Golden Galleons” by Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno, Florida (1982), and has a light blue paper cover with a nautical chart on it. This paperback edition is scarce. A second paperback edition (also entitled “Florida’s Golden Galleons”) was published and copyrighted as 1982, but it has a white paper cover with a ship on it. Finally, a third revised (not stated) paperback edition was published with the same identical paper cover and copyright date (1982) as the second paperback edition, except this third edition has 18 chapters and color illustrations (whereas the second edition has 15 chapters and black and white illustrations).
Description: This excellent book tells the story of the sinking and salvage of the 1715 Spanish fleet,which sank in a hurricane off Vero Beach, Florida and spilled millions of dollars in gold, silver and jewels just offshore.
Craig, Alan K.
Gold Coins of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet
ISBN/ISSN: 08884277
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 7.5” x 10.25”
Pages: 84
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by the Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research, Tallahassee, Florida (November 4, 1988) in hardback with a dust jacket. The printing was limited to 1000 copies.
Description: This book contains pictures, descriptions and background information on the gold coins in the State of Florida collection that were recovered from the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet.
Craig, Alan K.
Spanish Colonial Gold Coins in the Florida Collection
ISBN/ISSN: 0813018021
Keywords: 1733 Fleet, 1715 Fleet, Atocha, 1622 Fleet
Comments: Includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 7.25” x 10.25”
Pages: 94
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by the University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida (2000) in hardback with a dust jacket.
Description: This scholarly book describes the gold cob doubloons in the Florida State collection minted at Lima, Cuzco, Mexico and Sante Fe de Bogota. This book is an updated edition of the author’s previous gold coin book published in 1988, “Gold Coins of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet.”
Craig, Alan K.
Spanish Colonial Silver Coins in the Florida Collection
ISBN/ISSN: 0813017483
Keywords: 1733 Fleet, 1715 Fleet, Atocha, 1622 Fleet
Comments: Includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 7.25” x 10.25”
Pages: 217
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by the University of Florida Press, Gainesville,
Florida (2000) in hardback with a dust jacket.
Description: This scholarly book describes the minting of cob coins, transporting them to Spain, the various New World mints, mint scandals, and the numismatic significance of thousands of Spanish colonial silver coins in the State of Florida collection (which currently numbers 23,000 coins).
Haskins, Jack, Steve Guldan, and Susan Ubinger
Beachcomber’s Guide to the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Illustrated with maps
Size: 8.5” x 11”
Pages: 10
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by Sea Siren Treasure Salvors, Ltd., Ormond Beach, Florida (1992), in paperback and is scarce.
Description: This 8 page pamphlet shows the wreck locations of the Spanish fleet of ships that sank in a hurricane in 1715 between Vero Beach and Sebastian, Florida. The pamphlet includes a 2 page insert by Susan Ubinger on the history and salvage of the 1715 Fleet.
Holzworth, Shirley Jean
One Day of Hunting Treasure
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet, Mel Fisher
Comments: Pamphlet; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.5”
Pages: 24
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by Fort Pierce Press, Fort Pierce, Florida (1965), in paperback and is very rare.
Description: This pamphlet tells the story of Walt and Shirley Holzworth’s very successful day diving on the 1715 Fleet wrecks with their friends (Mel Fisher, Rupert Gates, Dick Williams, Fay Fields, Frank Allen, and Moe Molinar).
#C-4165
Hughes, David A.
1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet Wrecks – A Beachcomber’s Guide
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Illustrated with photos and maps
Size: 8.5” x 11”
Pages: 38
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by the author, San Juan Capistrano, California (2004), and is a Xeroxed and stapled booklet.
Description: This booklet very briefly describes the wrecking of the 1715 fleet, the salvage history of the shipwrecks, Florida beachcombing law, Spanish coinage found on the shipwrecks, the effects of storms on the beach, and it identifies and maps each of the shipwreck sites. The book is designed as a guide for metal detectorists.
Parke Bernet Galleries
Treasure of the Spanish Main
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Exhibition catalog; pamphlet; illustrated
Size: 9” x 6”
Pages: 38
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by Parke Bernet Galleries, New York City (1967), in paperback.
Description: This glossy pamphlet was an exhibition catalog for 1715 Fleet jewelry, coins, and artifacts that were to be sold at auction by Parke Bernet Galleries on February 4, 1967.
Reilly, Kevin, Gary T. Rowe, and Kevin Maranville
Hurricane Treasure
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Pamphlet; includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.5”
Pages: 62
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by Pirate Express Publishing, Pompano Beach, Florida (1990), in paperback.
Description: This pamphlet briefly covers the coins of the 1715 Fleet, the McLarty Museum (built at the site of the 1715 Fleet survivors’ camp) and devotes a chapter to each of the 1715 shipwreck site locations.
Richards, Ernie “SeaScribe”
Shipwrecks and Their Coins: Volume 3 – The 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet
ISBN/ISSN: 0974470538
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Pamphlet; includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.5”
Pages: 48
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by EN RADA Publications, West Palm Beach, Florida (2006), in paperback.
Description: This excellent pamphlet describes the gold and silver coinage recovered from the 1715 Fleet, including the heraldic devices, mints and assayers. Many coins are pictured. It also includes some background material on the 1715 Fleet and its salvage.
Stack’s Coins
The Treasure of 1715
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Pamphlet; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.5”
Pages: 16
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by Stack’s Coins, New York City (no date stated but probably 1976), in paperback and is rare.
Description: This pamphlet was produced to sell silver and gold coins from the 1715 Fleet. It has a brief history of the shipwreck, an explanation of coin grading, and quotes actual grade and price (a fully-dated 8 escudo Grade I gold coin was a mere $2700).
Strolia, Laura
The Marigalera of the 1715 Fleet
ISBN/ISSN: 978-0970875792
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: Marigalera, 1715 Fleet
Comments: Includes a bibliography; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.5”
Pages: 25
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by Need Help Services, Mesa, Arizona (2010), as a spiral-bound paperback.
Description: This booklet describes the history and sinking of the “Marigalera”, which was an aviso (messenger ship) travelling with the 1715 Fleet. The book provides evidence that the “Marigalera” is buried under the wreck of the “Spring of Whitby” (1824), just north of Wabasso Beach, Florida.
Wagner, Kip and L.B. Taylor, Jr.
Pieces of Eight
Library of Congress: 66-11563
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Illustrated
Size: 9.5” x 6.25”
Pages: 221
Editions: The first edition (stated) was published simultaneously by E.P. Dutton & Co., New York City and Clarke, Irwin & Company Limited, Toronto (1966), in hardback with a dust jacket. The most desirable copies are the ones signed by all nine participants in the Real Eight Corporation and L.B. Taylor, Jr. (all pictured on the back of the dust jacket). A second printing (stated) was published in 1967, a third printing (stated) was published in 1968, and a fourth printing (stated) was published in 1972 (all in hardback with a dust jacket). The first UK edition (not stated) was published Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd., London (1967) in hardback with a dust jacket. A Spanish language edition was published by Editorial Juvetud, S.A., Barcelona (1971) under the title, “Milliones Bajo el Mar: Recuperacion de las Riquezas de una Flota de la Tesoreria Espanola Perdida en un Naufragio”, in hardback with a dust jacket. A paperback edition was published in the US by Florida Classics Library, Port Salerno, Florida (1998).
Description: This book is story of the finding and partial salvage of the 1715 Fleet of 10 sunken Spanish galleons off Vero Beach, Florida in the 1960’s…told by the original salvor. Kip Wagner’s story started the underwater treasure hunting craze in Florida. This is one of the most collectible of all sunken treasure books in the US.
Weller, Robert “Frogfoot” and Ernie “Seascribe” Richards
Shipwrecks Near Wabasso Beach
ISBN/ISSN: 0962835943
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Includes a brief bibliography; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.5”
Pages: 96
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by En Rada Publications, West Palm Beach, Florida (1996), in paperback with a printing limited to 3000 copies. A second printing (stated) was published in 2001 in paperback. A third printing (stated) was published in 2004 in paperback (1200 copies produced).
Description: This book describes the locations of 14 shipwrecks in the Wabasso Beach (Florida) area, including five 1715 Fleet wrecks. There is also a brief history of each wreck and a list of recoveries (as of 1996) from each. This is an ideal book for metal detectorists who are trying to find coins on the beach from these wrecks. The book includes photos of many shipwreck coins.
Weller, Robert “Frogfoot”
Sunken Treasure on Florida Reefs
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Comments: Includes a brief bibliography; illustrated
Size: 5.5” x 8.75”
Pages: 78
Editions: The first edition (not stated) was published by the author (no copyright date is included but the Revised Edition says the first printing was published in 1987). 7500 copies of the first edition were produced and these are now scarce. A revised edition (stated on the cover) was published by the author (1993). The hardback revised edition was limited to 200 copies with a pictorial binding (no dust jacket issued) and is scarce. There was also a paperback version of the revised edition, which was produced in much greater numbers.
Description: This is probably the best book that has been written about the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet, which sank off of the east coast of Florida in a hurricane. It includes the history of the fleet, its demise, and the subsequent salvage efforts (both by the early Spanish salvors and by modern salvors). The author is one of the most successful salvors of the 1715 Fleet wrecks.
Westrick, Robert F.
The Treasure Fleet of 1715
ISBN/ISSN: 0970875770
Category: Sunken Treasure
Keywords: 1715 Fleet, La Holandesa, San Miguel de Excelsis
Comments: Spiral bound; includes a bibliography; illustrated; limited to 250 numbered copies
Size: 8.5” x 11”
Pages: 72
Editions: The author originally published 5 copies in 2005 while working for Historical Research & Development, Inc. and produced another 50 copies in 2008.
Description: This book provides an overview of Historical Research & Development Inc.’s (HRD) salvage operations in the E-110 exploration area off Vero Beach, Florida, between 1988 and 2007. It also discusses the possibility of two 1715 Fleet ships that have not been located being in this exploration area (“La Holandesa” and “San Miguel de Excelsis”) and that these two ships were likely candidates to contain the Queen of Spain’s (Isabel Farnese) missing jewels which were documented as being aboard the 1715 Fleet. Finally, the book analyzes five possibilities as to why the Queen of Spain’s jewels have never been located.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Drowned Galleons Yield Spanish Gold
Issue: January, 1965 (Volume 127, Number 1)
Author: Kip WagnerKip Wagner (1906 – 1972) was instrumental in the formation of the team that later became the Real Eight Company and one of the greatest salvage groups that ever explored the 1715 Fleet wrecks.  He ... More
Pages: 1-37
Keywords: 1715 Fleet
Description: This story tells how the author found, and started salvaging, the sunken galleons of the 1715 Fleet. The article is significant in that it was the first press about the 1715 Fleet recoveries and started the treasure hunting mania in Florida.