Items from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha wreck, 1622.
Jay I. Kislak Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress (118a–118d)
Items from a Spanish Treasure Ship
During the centuries of Spanish exploration and colonization, treasure fleets made regular trips to the Americas to deliver merchandise and collect treasures and precious metals. In late summer merchant ships would join their protectors, the war galleons, in Havana to form the treasure fleet for the return to Spain. Often, however, ships were scattered because of bad weather, poor seamanship, or piracy. In early September 1622, Nuestra Señora de Atocha, a galleon carrying tons of Spanish treasure, was wrecked on the Florida coral reefs near the Dry Tortugas, leaving only five survivors. These items were recovered from the site of the wreck.
The Items are: a Silver fork, a Spoon, a Plate, and Gold bullion.