Of all shipwrecks throughout history, one stands out for its sought-after treasures — sitting at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, the San José galleon contains an estimated $20 billion worth of gold, silver, and emeralds and is aptly dubbed the "holy grail" of shipwrecks. For years, multiple parties have coveted its treasures, becoming embroiled in disputes over ownership of the sunken ship.
As new developments unfold — such as a recent pledge by the Colombian government to retrieve parts of the ship and its goods — historians have taken this opportunity to revisit the galleon’s war-torn past. In doing so, they hope to learn about the stories of the San José's passengers who perished back in 1708.
Treasure in the San José
Exciting news has come to light in recent years regarding recovery of the ship’s items. In 2022, new images of the wreckage were taken by a remotely operated underwater vehicle, showing valuable items like gold ingots, coins, and pottery.
Earlier this year, the Colombian government announced that it would officially begin a $4.5 million recovery effort. This will be achieved with a robot that will dive 2,000 feet below the surface of the ocean and attempt to salvage multiple artifacts from the wreckage.
