A shipwreck salvage company off the east coast of Florida has uncovered an astonishing $1 million in sunken treasure, consisting of over 1,000 gold and silver Spanish coins believed to have been lost at sea more than 300 years ago.

Experts say the coins date back to 1715, when a fleet of Spanish ships was struck by a powerful hurricane while transporting treasure from the New World back to Spain. The storm sank several vessels along Florida’s Treasure Coast, scattering gold and silver across the ocean floor.

Divers with the recovery team described the discovery as one of the most significant finds in recent years. The coins are expected to undergo authentication and appraisal, with portions possibly displayed in museums under state oversight.

The find adds another remarkable chapter to Florida’s long history of sunken Spanish galleons and maritime treasure hidden beneath its coastal waters.