Mystery of Gold Coin Shipwreck Finally Unmasked After 30 Years

Researchers in the United Kingdom believe they've finally identified a shipwreck off England's southern coast — a discovery three decades in the making.

The identification was announced in June by Bournemouth University and centers on a shipwreck discovered near Salcombe, Devon, in 1995.

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At the time, divers recovered more than 400 Moroccan gold coins — but there was no clue as to what the ship was called and where it came from.

Now, researchers have identified it as the Dutch trading ship Dom van Keulen, a vessel that left Morocco for the Netherlands in the fall of 1633.

At the time, the ship "sprang a leak and sank," according to the university's news release. All crew members survived.

The findings are detailed in the recently published book "From Morocco to the Coast of England: The Story of the Dom van Keulen and its Remarkable Cargo."

Beege Welborn

I love a good historical detective story.

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