Atocha Star Emerald

The Atocha Star is a 400-year-old emerald, weighing more than 25.87 carats (5.174 g) before being cut to 12.72 carats (2.544 g).[1][2] The emerald is estimated to be worth between $3.2 and $5 million (USD).[2][3] It was part of the treasure on board the ship Nuestra Señora de Atocha, also referred to as the Atocha. The Atocha was the largest Spanish treasure galleon in a fleet of twenty-eight ships bound for Spain which sank along with seven others in a hurricane on September 6, 1622.[4][5] It sank with the Atocha Star emerald, the highest graded emerald of all Atocha Emeralds.[2][5]

Close view of the Atocha Star emerald
The Golden Eagle standing watch over the Atocha Star emerald

History

Mel and Deo Fisher searched for the Atocha for 16 years and in 1985 found the mother lode worth more than $400 million US (approximately 1/2 of the treasure listed on the manifest). They discovered "Emerald City" about 100 feet (30 m) from the "main pile" of the Atocha. Emerald City yielded 13,500 carats of emeralds that were originally mined at Muzo, Colombia.[6][7]

The "Atocha Star" emerald was graded as 1AA with an uncut weight of 25.87 carats. It was chosen by Mel Fisher as a gift to Deo Fisher, his wife. The emerald was selected based on its size, brilliant color, and quality.[2][8]

Generally, artifacts of this kind are not altered because of their historical significance; however, as a gift for Deo Fisher, in 1992 the emerald was cut down to 12.72 carats, making it one of the largest and the only named cut emerald from the Atocha.[1]

The Atocha Star is currently mounted between the claws of an 18 pounds (8.2 kg) solid gold statue of an eagle, known as The Golden Eagle or The Maltese Eagle.[9][10][11]

Theft

On May 30, 2016, the Golden Eagle on which the Atocha Star Emerald is mounted, was stolen from its owner Ron Shore, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The heist occurred in the 4700 block of 57th street while it was being loaded into a vehicle. The statue had been on display for four days at the Art Vancouver exhibit and has still not been located. Delta Police are asking if anybody hears anything or happens to see this statue for sale somewhere that they contact Delta Police.[12]

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See also

References
  1. Smith, Gordon (September 7, 1992). "Gem cutter romances the stone". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. 4.
  2. "The Atocha Star Emerald". The World's Greatest Treasure Hunt. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  3. "Valuation Report" (PDF). Emeralds International. January 25, 2013. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  4. "History Of The Shipwreck Nuestra Senora De Atocha (The Atocha Story)". New World Treasures. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. "1622 FLEET: Nuestra Señora de Atocha, Santa Margarita Spanish Galleons of 1622". Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum. Archived from the original on April 19, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  6. Weller, Bob (1996). The Dreamweaver. South Carolina, US: Fletcher and Fletcher Publishing, LLC. p. 333. ISBN 0-9628359--7-8.
  7. Lyon, Eugene (1929). The search for the Atocha. p. 311. ISBN 0-912451-20-3.
  8. "Deo Fisher: life of adventure concluded". Florida Keys Keywest News. Jan 13, 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  9. Neal Riley (September 13, 2012). "Maltese Falcon to gain feathered friend at John's Grill". SFGate. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  10. Shore, Ron (2009). The World's Greatest Treasure Hunt: Quest for the Golden Eagle. Canada: Forgotten Treasures International Inc. pp. xvii–xviii. ISBN 978-0-9813099-0-3.
  11. "The Treasure - The Golden Eagle". The World's Greatest Treasure Hunt. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  12. "Diamond-encrusted Golden Eagle stolen". CNN.com.
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