After years of legal wrangling, the treasure of the Spanish frigate ‘Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes’ is on its way back to Spain, the bulk of it on board two Hercules transport aircraft.
The frigate ‘Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes’ was sunk by the British in 1804 and lay untouched on the seabed until it was discovered by the treasure hunting outfit Odyssey Marine.
Years of legal disputes were finally resolved when a Florida court ordered the treasure to be returned to the Spanish government. The treasure includes 595,000 gold and silver coins, tin and copper ingots, textiles, cannonballs and other artefacts.