After more than 200 years, the ‘Mercedes’ returns to the Americas

“Because of what happened to the Mercedes, Spain no longer had so many ships to send to the Americas and that was the beginning of the independence [movements].
But after a four-year legal battle, American courts supported Spain’s claim to the sunken treasure and Odyssey was forced to return the pieces to the Spanish authorities.
It’s a key moment in history.”ver fotogalería Some of the coins in the exhibit.
Though it has been five years since the Spanish government recovered 17 tons of coins from the Mercedes, its story remains a mystery.
“Our shared history is undeniable,” says Susana García Ramírez, a conservator at Madrid’s Naval Museum and the curator of the exhibition where the salvaged material now has its home.

Fuente: http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/07/04/inenglish/1467635697_121523.html