Description
THE ATLANTIC TARGET
EXPEDITIION WRECK OF 1810
FOUND IN BERMUDA WATERS
THE 3 MILE DEEP WRECK
“Atlantic Sands”
In 1999, the Russian research vessel Kaldesh was exploring the waters east of Bermuda for Gus Grissom’s Mercury Capsule. They were using highly technical equipment to locate the capsule. While doing side-scan sonar, an interesting anomaly became visible at a depth of 16,300 feet. They marked it on the charts for later exploration. Two years later, the Kaldesh returned to the site, using the Mir-1 and Mir-2 manned submarines they located the anomaly, which later turned out to be a ship sitting upright on the bottom. When they got close to the vessel, they saw a large amount of coconuts and rum bottles, leading some to dub this wreck the “Pinacolada Wreck”. In the middle of what remained of the deck was spotted a wooden chest full of silver coins. Next to the chest was an ornate gold box. In the box was found 13 gold coins wrapped in a newspaper dated August 6, 1808. Two of the gold coins are among the rarest gold coins ever found on any shipwreck. There were 1300 silver coins salvaged as well. All the coins predated 1810. The ship is believed to have been involved in the triangular slave trade between, England, Africa, and the Americas, and to have sunk in late 1809 or early 1810. Other wonderful artifacts were recovered as well, including two English octants, a telescope, and an hourglass.
