Divers have recently found a tiny gold joint toothpick and earwax spoon in the trail of a shipwrecked Spanish galleon off of the Florida Keys. It is believed to be more than 385 years old.
The Golden Tool
The tool weighs only an ounce, but its value is around $100,000. It belonged to someone alive during the late 16th or early 17th century. The divers, were searching for the shipwreck of the Spanish galleon Santa Margarita that sank in a 1622 hurricane, also recovered ceramic pieces, spikes, ships’ fittings, rigging elements and two skeleton keys.
The search for Santa Margarita artifacts began more than a quarter-century ago by the late, famous Key West treasure hunter Mel Fisher. Almost a year ago, Blue Water divers also located gold bars, gold chains and a lead box containing thousands of pearls that were carried by the Margarita. The value of that previous find was estimated at more than $2 million. Hopefully, divers will be able to find the wreck itself soon.
