A recent study has provided further evidence that a 300-year-old Spanish warship, known as the San José galleon, was found off Colombia. Researchers used an unmanned underwater vehicle to survey the wreck and captured images of some of its cargo. Three-dimensional reconstructions of coins revealed a Jerusalem cross and symbols from the crowns of the Spanish monarchs of Castile and León. The study’s findings confirm that the shipwreck occurred after 1707, proving it was part of the Tierra Firme Fleet.
Historical records show that the San José sank off Colombia in 1708 following a battle with British forces. The discovery of gold coins minted in Lima, Peru, in 1707 has strengthened the case for the shipwreck’s identity. The lead researcher stated that the find presents an opportunity to explore an underwater archaeological site and deepen our understanding of eighteenth-century maritime trade routes.
The Colombian government claims to have discovered the San José in 2015, but a US-based marine salvage company disputes this, arguing it discovered the shipwreck in the early 1980s. The company is currently engaged in a legal battle against the Colombian government over ownership and value of the treasure, estimated at $17 billion.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/06/11/science/san-jose-galleon-cobs-image-scli-intl