Treasures beneath the waves

Treasures beneath the waves

By Albany Herald News

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multimedia

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January 23, 2016

This before and after picture shows a solid silver rapier handle, hilt, and frog stud that have been dated to the 1500s that professional salvage diver Mike Brown found while diving the wreckage of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)

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Treasures beneath the waves

Mike Brown, a retired Marine, has become a hall of fame undersea treasure hunter.

This is the reverse side of a rare Spanish escudo coin that professional salvage diver and Albany resident Mike Brown discovered in 2010 while diving the wreck of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715 off the coast of Florida. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)

Professional salvage diver Mike Brown shares some of his adventures diving the wreck of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715 with members of the Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County. (Staff Photo: Brad McEwen)

During his many salvage dives, Albany’s Mike Brown says he’s found numerous gold items, like these Spanish coins. (Staff Photo: Brad McEwen)

Professional salvage diver and Albany resident Mike Brown shows off a silver rapier grip he found while diving the remains of a Spanish fleet off the coast of Florida. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)

This is the front side of a rare Spanish escudo coin that professional salvage diver and Albany resident Mike Brown discovered in 2010 while diving the wreck of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715 off the coast of Florida. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)

Professional salvage diver Mike Brown shows Kiwanis Club of Dougherty County member Debbie Blanton some of the treasures he’s pulled from the wreck of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715. (Staff Photo: Brad McEwen)

Albany resident and professional salvage diver and treasure hunter Mike Brown, shows off a rare Spanish escudo coin he pulled from the wreckage of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)

In addition to finding value bits of gold and silver, professional salvage diver Mike Brown says he finds other things of cultural significance, such as musket balls and pieces of olive jars, when he’s diving the wreckage of Spanish galleons. (Staff Photo: Brad McEwen)

Professional salvage diver Mike Brown says there is nothing more exhilarating than emerging from a dive with a gold coin. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)

Albany resident, retired Marine Corps Major, and professional salvage diver Mike Brown shows off an ancient Spanish hand grenade that he found while diving the wreckage of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715. (Staff Photo: Brad McEwen)

Retired Marine Corps Major, Albany resident, and professional salvage diver Mike Brown displays an alabaster ink well he salvaged from the wreck of the Spanish Treasure Fleet of 1715 off the coast of Florida in 2012. (Photo Courtesy of Mike Brown)