Treasure from sunken galleon must be returned to Spain..

[Frankeh]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/01/treasu...

US court says $500m of gold and silver coins recovered by US treasure-hunters from Atlantic in 2007 belongs to Spain


What an absolute pile of horse st. How can spain rightfully claim it as there when they just stole it from Peru in the first place. I think it's time for Peru to put in a claim for the Spanish government to hand it over.

It's absolutely absurd.

[KrazyIvan]

Wonder if they will send it via boat, that "mysteriously" sinks half way there

[Frankeh]

KrazyIvan said:

Wonder if they will send it via boat, that "mysteriously" sinks half way there

They should just put it back where they found it (more or less).

[Oakey]

"Pizzo argued that the coins, all dated prior to 1804, matched the Mercedes' cargo of coins minted in Lima, Peru – part of a haul being brought back to finance Spain's European wars."

If this had been Nazi gold would they have been ordered to give it back to the Germans?

[Frankeh]

That has to be one of the fasted Godwins ever.

[Oakey]

You'd think they'd at least negotiate a reward for retrieving it. Otherwise just dump it back where they found it and let the Spanish government recover it.

[Ayahuasca]

The morality of this is very murky.

Bolivia should put in a claim, it is very likely that the silver came from the great mines high on the mountain of Potosi, where thousands of Bolivian slaves toiled and died underground in apalling conditions.

Of course, 'Bolivia' was then part of Peru so maybe they should claim too.

[vonuber]

Frankeh said:

What an absolute pile of horse st. How can spain rightfully claim it as there when they just stole it from Peru in the first place.

Have you been around the British Museum lately?

[Bluebarge]

Frankeh said:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/01/treasu...

US court says $500m of gold and silver coins recovered by US treasure-hunters from Atlantic in 2007 belongs to Spain


What an absolute pile of horse st. How can spain rightfully claim it as there when they just stole it from Peru in the first place. I think it's time for Peru to put in a claim for the Spanish government to hand it over.

It's absolutely absurd.

You mean pre-Conquista Peru? How will they do that then? Time machine?

[ninja-lewis]

Hang on, the Spanish galleon was sunk by the Royal Navy. Surely we should claim the gold as our prize?

[Frankeh]

I'm not sure you can really drive these people underground, can you? They operate in big old boats and selling off $500M worth of old coins is hardly inconspicuous.

[Oakey]

Frankeh said:

I'm not sure you can really drive these people underground, can you? They operate in big old boats and selling off $500M worth of old coins is hardly inconspicuous.

Melt it down into ingots.

[ExChrispy Porker]

Spain could do with it, by all accounts.

[Happy82]

ninja-lewis said:

Hang on, the Spanish galleon was sunk by the Royal Navy. Surely we should claim the gold as our prize?

A very good point!

[Jimbeaux]

"Rightful ownership of the coins, which fill 600 barrels, now belongs to Spain and to descendants of the 250 Spanish sailors who were lost when the vessel blew up."

Wow, I wonder how this is to be done and, more importantly, how long it will take? Sounds as if lawyers may get the bulk of the treasure.

[Roman]

Frankeh said:

I'm not sure you can really drive these people underground, can you? They operate in big old boats and selling off $500M worth of old coins is hardly inconspicuous.