Colombia Recovers First Treasures from the Legendary San José Galleon (1708)
In December 2025, Colombian underwater archaeologists achieved a historic milestone: for the first time in 317 years, artifacts were brought to the surface from the Spanish galleon San José — widely known as the “Holy Grail of shipwrecks”.
The 62-gun warship was carrying an estimated 200 tons of gold, silver and emeralds when it sank. The cargo’s current value is estimated at $18–20 billion, making it the most valuable shipwreck ever discovered.
How the World’s Richest Galleon Sank
On June 8, 1708, San José was leading the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 18 ships from South America to Spain. Near Barú Peninsula (close to Cartagena), a British squadron attacked the convoy.
A direct hit ignited the powder magazine, and the galleon exploded and sank in minutes, taking almost 600 lives with it. Only 11 crew members survived.
Discovery and Years of Legal Battles
The wreck was located in November 2015 at a depth of approximately 600 metres south of Cartagena. Ownership claims immediately came from Spain, a U.S. salvage company, the Colombian government, and even the indigenous Qhara Qhara nation of Bolivia.
Colombia ultimately declared the site national cultural heritage and launched its own scientific recovery project.
Artifacts Raised in 2025
During the first phase of the operation, using advanced deep-sea robots, the team recovered:
- a bronze cannon decorated with dolphins
- three gold and bronze coins
- two completely intact 18th-century Chinese porcelain cups
- several large porcelain fragments
According to experts from the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), the items are in extraordinary condition due to the low-oxygen environment at that depth.
The cannon was immediately placed in a refrigerated container and the coins in saltwater tanks for conservation.
The main recovery of gold and silver ingots is scheduled for 2026–2028. Colombia has already announced plans to build a National Museum of Shipwrecks in Cartagena, where the San José treasures will become the centrepiece.
Source: Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), Colombian Navy, December 2025
