'King to be' Felipe reveals Spanish recovered treasure

The Spaniards are very proud of the retrieved treasure of “Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes”. About 8,000 coins went on display in Cartagena last month. Yesterday a large part of the treasure was unveiled by Spain's king to be Felipe.

Felipe and future queen Letizia launched the exhibition in central Madrid celebrating the return of the treasure. It was the perfect opportunity for Madrid's National Archeological Muesum to be reopened. In its newly reconstructed basement, Felipe, Letizia and others marveled at the treasure containing more than 30,000 silver coins encased in a glass box.

The treasure was discovered by US company Odyssey in 2007 and after more than five years of court battle, Spain finally got it back. “To get it back to Spain says to me: Mission Accomplished. It's very emotional,” said James Goold, the US lawyer that represented Spain the legal battle.

The 30,000 coins displayed in Madrid along those 8,000 in Cartagena are just a fraction of the estimated 580,000 coins found at the bottom of the ocean. Spain's King to be Felipe and future Queen had a quick stop at the reopened Museum in Madrid, chatted with people gathered there smiled, took a few pictures, viewed Spain's recovered treasure and left.