Archaeologists retrieve first treasure items from $20B 'Holy Grail' shipwreck off Colombia

Archaeologists successful Colombia person retrieved the archetypal items from the fabled San José galleon, a wreck known arsenic the "Holy Grail of shipwrecks" owed to its sheer magnitude of treasure.

The galleon, which sank successful the Caribbean Sea successful 1708 during an onslaught by a British fleet, has been the taxable of aggravated scrutiny and planetary disputes since it was discovered successful 2015.

The shipwreck is believed to incorporate astir 11 cardinal golden and metallic coins, on with emeralds and different invaluable cargo. Its treasure is worthy arsenic overmuch arsenic $20 billion. 

The San José was carrying chests afloat of jewels and golden coins erstwhile it sank connected its mode to King Philip V of Spain.

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The San José galleon sank portion carrying golden and jewels bound for King Philip V of Spain successful 1708. (Leemage/Corbis via Getty Images; Colombian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

On Thursday, Colombia's civilization ministry announced that archaeologists person recovered a porcelain cup, 3 coins and a cannon from the site.

Pictures released by the authorities amusement President Gustavo Petro marveling astatine the past bronze cannon that was retrieved, which has remained successful singular condition.

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The recently-announced artifacts correspond conscionable a fraction of what the vessel was carrying erstwhile it sank implicit 300 years ago.

Colombia and Spain person some claimed ownership rights to the treasure. Colombia is successful arbitration litigation with Sea Search Armada, a radical of U.S. investors that claims it discovered the wreck successful 1982.

The archetypal recovered items see a porcelain cup, 3 coins and a remarkably preserved bronze cannon. (Colombian Presidency/Handout via Reuters)

The wreckage's nonstop determination has been kept a authorities secret, and it lies astir 2,000 feet heavy successful the sea.

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Petro's authorities has affirmed that the deep-water expedition is focused connected research, not treasure hunting.

Though the San Jose galleon remains the world's astir invaluable known shipwreck, different notable maritime discoveries person surfaced successful 2025.

Officials antecedently shared photos of the wreck showing remnants of the San José galleon, known arsenic the "Holy Grail of shipwrecks." (Reuters)

This summer, a radical of marine experts determined the nonstop determination of Captain James Cook's HMS Endeavour, the vessel utilized to scope the eastbound seashore of Australia.

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In June, officials unveiled the deepest-recorded shipwreck successful French waters, disconnected the seashore of Ramatuelle. The vessel inactive retained past cargo, including well-preserved porcelain.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.