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 The
historical value of a 40-carat emerald found near the
wreckage of a 17th century Spanish galleon off Key West is
far more important than its monetary value, says the
president of a Fernandina Beach underwater research and
recovery firm.
"It tells us that the ship, the Santa Margarita, and
its sister ship were smuggling emeralds because they were
not listed on the manifests," said Doug Pope, president
of Amelia Research and Recovery of Fernandina Beach.
The green rock was inside a queen conch shell one of
Pope's part-time divers recovered from the site Sept. 4. But
Pope would only identify the finder of the gem as a
part-time diver and investor in the firm who works as an
elementary school teacher in Nassau County.
"He wants to remain anonymous, and I have to respect
that," Pope said.
Pope explained that his company, which owns a unique
treasure-hunting vessel, the Polly-L, has a contract with a
company founded by the late treasure hunter Mel Fisher to
salvage the wreckage. Fisher and his crew found the Santa
Margarita's hull timbers in 1980 and since then have
collected $35 million in gold and silver bullion from the
site.
"We are pretty excited about this find," said
Pope, adding that the stone has been identified as a
Brazilian emerald.
The stone now is in the custody of another Fisher firm
for safekeeping, Pope said. The two firms split the treasure
50-50 each year after going before a federal maritime judge,
who must approve their release back to the two firms.
"This find tells us there's a lot more of this on
the wreck," Pope said.
It is too early to say how the emerald will be disposed
of or its dollar value, Pope said.
Ed Gavron, owner of the Aqua Explorers dive shop in
Fernandina Beach and a vice president of Pope's firm, said
the queen conch shell in which the emerald rested on the
ocean floor is on display in his shop.
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