WORLD
Sunken ship`s treasure returns to Spain from Florida
Baku, February 25 (AZERTAC). Treasure from a ship sunk in 1804 and discovered in 2007 by an American deep sea exploration company on Friday began a trip to Spain aboard two transport planes.
Return of the more than 23 tons of silver and gold ends a five-year legal battle between Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc and the government of Spain over control of treasure from the galleon "Our Lady of Mercy."
"The total was 49,000 pounds, much more than the 17 tons thought at first, because the first quantity the company announced was not correct," Miguel Morer, press spokesman for the Spanish Defense Ministry, told AFP.
Odyssey stored the roughly $500 million worth of coins and artifacts at a warehouse in its hometown of Tampa.
The silver and gold represent the most valuable sunken treasure discovery in history.
Our Lady of Mercy was a warship sunk by a British fleet off the coast of Portugal near the Straits of Gibraltar during the Battle of Cape Santa Maria.