Are Dark Tide Relics shipwreck coins authentic?

Every shipwreck coin and artifact sold by Dark Tide Relics is authenticated and accompanied by provenance documentation from recognized authorities such as the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, NGC, or PCGS, plus a permanent digital provenance record via TreasureCheck.ai.

Which shipwrecks does Dark Tide Relics specialize in?

Dark Tide Relics curates artifacts from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622), Santa Margarita, the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, El Cazador (1784), SS Central America (1857), Maravillas, Concepción, and other documented Spanish colonial and American Gold Rush wrecks.

How are orders shipped?

All orders ship via FedEx, fully insured and with adult signature required on delivery.

Does Dark Tide Relics buy shipwreck coins from collectors?

Yes. Dark Tide Relics actively acquires authenticated shipwreck coins and collections. Submissions can be made through the Sell Coins program at darktiderelics.com/sell-coins.

Jupiter Wreck (“San Miguel el Arcángel”)

Lost: 1659
Location: Jupiter, Florida, USA
Coordinates: 26.9300, -80.0700
Era: Spanish Colonial – Shared Cargo System
Coinage: cob
Cargo: Silver cobs, Artifacts

A mid-17th-century Spanish wreck off Jupiter, Florida. Often called the San Miguel el Arcángel, but the vessel has never been conclusively identified.

History

The wreck lying just off the Jupiter Inlet in Florida is one of the better-studied mid-17th-century Spanish sites in North America — and one whose identity has never been settled. It is widely referred to in the collector market as the San Miguel el Arcángel, but that name comes from salvor tradition rather than from documentary proof; the archaeological record treats the vessel as unidentified. We follow that more cautious reading here. What the material itself shows is a Spanish ship of roughly the 1650s carrying silver cobs and trade goods typical of the period — evidence of the steady flow of New World wealth heading back to Spain, and of the danger Florida's coastline posed to it. The wreck's shallow location near modern Jupiter has made it unusually accessible for archaeological study, which is why it contributes real information about Spanish colonial shipping practices despite the open question of the ship's name.

Recovery

The Jupiter Wreck has been the subject of both professional archaeological excavation and recreational diving exploration. Its relatively shallow location has allowed for extensive documentation of the site and recovery of numerous artifacts. Silver cobs recovered from the site bear the distinctive markings of 17th-century Spanish colonial mints, connecting them to the broader network of treasure that flowed through the Caribbean. These coins provide tangible links to the complex economic system that sustained the Spanish empire. Reported coin counts vary by source and by point in the disputed recovery — from roughly 5,100 coins in one 1995 account to over 10,000 in a later municipal account — and in 1992 the State of Florida pulled the salvors' permit amid disputes among the partners over handling and division of the finds. Artifacts from the Jupiter Wreck are held in museum collections and private holdings, each piece contributing to our understanding of this turbulent period in maritime history.

Timeline

1657 — Ship Built — Constructed as part of the 1650s treasure fleet system.
1659 — Departs for Spain — Sails with silver cobs and trade goods from the Caribbean.
1659 — Wrecked Off Florida — Lost on Florida's treacherous coastline near modern Jupiter.
1960s — Wreck Discovered — Divers locate the site, making it accessible for study.
1970s–Present — Ongoing Excavation — Professional and recreational divers recover silver cobs and artifacts.

Notes

Named for the Florida city near the wreck site — the ship itself is unidentified
The "San Miguel el Arcángel" name is salvor tradition, not documented attribution
Shallow, accessible location allows ongoing archaeological work
Silver cobs show connections to colonial mints