The Disappeared Gold Bars of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes off Spain
The Disappeared Gold Bars of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
The story of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Portugal in 1804, is laden with adventure, intrigue, and a treasure hunt that has captured the imagination of historians and treasure seekers alike. This galleon, which was traveling from the Americas to Spain, was carrying a significant fortune in gold bars, silver coins, and other precious cargo, which would later become the focal point of numerous salvage attempts and legal disputes.
Historical Context of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
The Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes was originally built in the late 18th century, serving as a merchant ship for the Spanish crown. By the time she set sail in 1804, the ship had already been part of the transatlantic trade, carrying goods between the Americas and Spain. This period was marked by political upheaval, as European powers vied for control over colonies in the New World. Spain, then amid the War of the Third Coalition against Napoleonic France, relied heavily on its maritime routes to transport treasure and supplies.
In the early days of her voyage, the Mercedes had accumulated a particularly valuable cargo. On September 28, 1804, she departed from Montevideo, Uruguay, laden with roughly 200,000 pesos worth of treasure, which included a substantial quantity of gold bars. The ship’s captain, Ignacio María de Alcover, was tasked with navigating these valuable goods back to Spain, but fate had other plans.
The Sinking of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
On October 5, 1804, just off the coast of Portugal, the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes encountered the British frigate HMS Phoenix. This British ship, acting under military orders in support of Britain’s ongoing conflicts with Napoleonic France, opened fire on the Mercedes. The ensuing battle was tumultuous and ultimately led to the sinking of the galleon. The Spanish vessel went down in shallow waters, taking with her not only the crew and passengers, primarily Spanish nationals and some enslaved people, but also a vast fortune.
Reports vary regarding the exact number of casualties, though it is believed that nearly 200 lives were lost in the tragic sinking. The shipwreck not only marked the loss of lives but also a significant blow to Spain’s maritime commerce, as well as a treasure that lay hidden beneath the waves.
The Treasure and Its Value
The treasure aboard the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes included a substantial amount of gold, silver, and various other valuable items. Historical accounts indicate the following breakdown of the cargo:
- Approximately 200,000 pesos in gold coins and bars, many of which were minted in Lima and Potosí.
- A shipment of silver coins, additional ingots, and other valuables, collectively weighing tons.
- Precious artifacts and items of significance to the Spanish crown, which heightened the importance of the salvaging efforts.
Given the historical context of the time, the current value of the treasure carried by the galleon would be estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars in today’s economy. The quest to recover this wealth initiated decades of treasure hunting efforts, mired in legalities and often controversial claims over ownership and rights to the artifacts.
Discovery of the Shipwreck
More than a century and a half after the galleon’s sinking, the wreck of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes was discovered off the coast of Portugal in This find was led by a team from Odyssey Marine Exploration, a company specializing in the recovery of shipwrecks. The site was located approximately 3,200 feet underwater, near the Algarve region, just north of the Strait of Gibraltar.
The discovery was heralded as a significant archaeological find, as it provided valuable insights into maritime history, trade in the 18th century, and the intricate world of galleon voyages. The shipwreck yielded a considerable amount of treasure, including thousands of coins, gold bars, and various other artifacts that were recovered from the ocean floor.
Legal Battles Over the Treasure
The recovery of treasure from shipwrecks often leads to legal disputes, particularly when the ship in question is historically significant or is understood to have belonged to a sovereign nation. In the case of the Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, the initial recovery efforts were met with immediate pushback from the Spanish government.
Spain asserted its claims over the vessel and her contents, arguing that the ship was a national treasure and that its artifacts belonged to the Spanish crown. This led to a series of legal battles over the next few years, culminating in a decision by U.S. federal courts. In 2012, a judge ruled in favor of Spain, ordering Odyssey Marine Exploration to return the artifacts they had recovered.
