David Horan - The Treasure Sultan

The Jupiter Wreck

EDITOR'S NOTE: David Horan's clients know him as the Treasure Sultan. Horan of Key West, Florida, is one of the leading attorneys in the nation on admiralty law as it pertains to ownership of sunken treasure, sunken ships and underwater artifacts. His clients have salvaged some of the greatest underwater treasures and historical finds in the world, including the "Atocha," the "Santa Margarita," the "Andreadoria," the "Titanic," the "San Miguel De Archangel" and the "El Cazador." Horan also has had the opportunity to scuba dive on many of these wrecks. This week, Horan will share with us his adventures, photos and tales of great treasure finds made by ordinary people like you and me.

In July of 1985, Peter Leo, a young lifeguard who worked at Jupiter Inlet in Jupiter, Florida, swam out from shore and found what he believed to be a Spanish galleon. We believe it to be the "Archangel" that sank in 1659. Leo found gold and silver coins, gold and silver bars and a wide variety of artifacts. A large majority of these coins were dated from 1652 to 1658. These coins are not round like the ones from the "El Cazador." Aztec and Inca slaves of the Spaniards hand-stamped all the coins we found on the "Archangel." At this time, the Spanish had salvaged quite a few wrecks in the Bahamas. The "Archangel" was one of these salvage vessels. However, during a storm, the "Archangel" broke lose from its moorings and sank. The coins that we found on the "Archangel" originally came from another Spanish galleon known as the "Marvillas" that sunk in the Bahamas. With its load of gold and silver from the "Marvillas," the "Archangel" sank off of Jupiter Inlet.

Once Peter Leo found the treasure, he put together a salvage team, and then he called me. I advised Leo to wait until I met with him and his team to decide on how to split the treasure once they recovered it. I explained that gold fever had infected many a salvage crew through the years. I'd learned that those involved should divide the treasure before they recovered it rather than after they recovered it. Once all of the concerned parties agreed to these measures, we organized Jupiter Wreck Inc. To date they've recovered thousands of coins -- both gold and silver. Most of these coins came from the Lima Mint in Lima, Peru. Most are dated 1652 through 1658. Members of the Hog's Breath Club can buy 1/8, 4s, 2s and bits. Coins from the "Archangel" also come with a certificate of authenticity that tells the story of the coins and their place of history.

If you find a treasure and you want to contact me, you can email me at bhw608@hotmail.com, call me at (352) 294-4585 or write to me at 608 Whitehead Street, Key West, Fl 33040.

TOMORROW: WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SUNKEN OR BURIED TREASURE