Treasures from Spanish galleon that sank off Florida in 1622 going to auction
A solid gold chain and an intricate gold-and-enamel spoon are among items pulled from the wreckage of a 400-year-old Spanish galleon that will be auctioned off next month.
Nuestra Senora de Atocha (NWAY'-struh sehn-YOHR'-uh day ah-TOH'-chah) went down in a violent hurricane in 1622 near the Florida Keys laden with New World gold while en route to Spain.
Treasure hunter Mel Fisher searched 16 years for it before discovering the Atocha mother lode in 1985. He found 40 tons of silver and gold, fine Colombian emeralds and over 1,000 silver bars.
On Aug. 5, Guernsey's will auction 40 select items from the doomed ship.