Santa Margarita 1622 Shipwreck

The Santa Margarita was the sister ship to the legendary Nuestra Senora de Atocha, and she shared the same fate. Both galleons were part of the Tierra Firme Fleet that departed Havana on September 4th, 1622, loaded with New World treasure bound for Spain.

Just two days into their voyage, a severe hurricane struck the fleet off the Florida Keys. The Santa Margarita ran aground near the Atocha, approximately 35 miles west of Key West. Like her sister ship, the Santa Margarita's hull was torn apart by the coral reefs, scattering her precious cargo across the ocean floor.

When Spanish authorities learned of the disaster, they dispatched five ships to salvage the wrecks. The Santa Margarita, sitting in shallower waters than the Atocha, proved more accessible. Over a course of years, using Indian slaves sent down in crude brass diving bells with windows on the side, Spanish salvagers managed to recover almost half of the Santa Margarita's registered treasure. Many of these diving efforts ended tragically, with slaves losing their lives in the dangerous conditions.

A second hurricane the following month further scattered the treasure from both wrecks, severely hindering recovery efforts. Despite their partial success with the Santa Margarita, the Spanish never located the Atocha, and salvage operations eventually ceased.

The Santa Margarita was rediscovered in the 20th century by Mel Fisher and his Treasure Salvors team during their epic search for the Atocha. The wreck yielded significant treasure including gold bars, silver coins, emeralds, and jewelry, adding to the extraordinary haul that made the 1622 fleet one of the most valuable shipwreck discoveries in history.

Today, authentic coins and artifacts from the Santa Margarita are prized by collectors worldwide. Each piece carries the weight of nearly four centuries of history, from the mines of the New World, through the holds of a Spanish galleon, to the bottom of the sea, and finally into the hands of modern collectors.