Secondo wrote:
"Cultural heritage", that's it. With all the silver that has been recovered, the world will get once again a sound proof of the Spanish ruthless exploitation of latin America
The term "Latin America" is not correct in this context. The correct term is Spanish America. Italy and France (latin countries) has no relation with South America.
Regarding the human exploitation, and all those "MADE IN HOLLYWOOD" topics:
This ship was carrying money (coins), no minerals. It's very different. The money was legally owned by merchants, bankers, taxpayers, etc.. As evidenced by the fact that they were all legally compensated by the insurance then.
With regard to british attack, only clarify:
The <Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes> (Our Lady of Mercy) was sailing as merchant ship, not as warship.
She was sunk in peacetime by a British warship that shot her in the store of ammunition. There were passengers on board (women and children), who died in the explosion. The names of these passengers are knowed and their families were active part during this trial.
Regarding sacking the wreck by the salvage companie:
From a legal standpoint, the ship was never abandoned by the crew, so it is considered that the wreck is a spanish property. The salvage company Odyssey violated international law recovering the coins without permission (which is an act of piracy) and with clandestine procedures.
Fortunately they were denounced and condemned. Thanks to the Florida courts (which have long experience in these matters) it has been able to prevent the smuggling of items of historical value.
The next days, the ultimate destination of this heritage will be the Naval Museum of Madrid, always open to those who wish to visit it.