Shipwreck Blogs

Mexican 2, 4 and 8 Reales from shipwreck Vergulde Draeck (Shipwreck Blog)
Vergulde Draeck

Vergulde Draeck: The Mysterious Sinking of the VOC Shipwreck

In 1656, the VOC ship Vergulde Draeck ran aground off the west coast of Australia, carrying a valuable cargo of silver coins. While 75 crew members survived the wreck, their fate remains unknown. Despite rescue efforts and later discoveries of artifacts, the ship’s story is still one of Australia’s greatest maritime mysteries.

Merestein

The Merestein Shipwreck: Lost Silver off the Cape Coast

The VOC ship Merestein met its end off the South African coast in 1701, carrying a valuable cargo of silver intended for trade in the East Indies. Though early recovery efforts failed, modern salvage operations have uncovered thousands of silver coins, shedding light on the VOC’s global trading legacy.

Lutine

The Lutine Shipwreck: Lost Gold, Silver, and Naval History

The HMS Lutine sank in 1799 while transporting a fortune in gold and silver to Germany, tragically claiming nearly all aboard. Despite multiple recovery attempts, much of the treasure remains lost, with the few recovered artifacts now highly prized by collectors.