Picture if you will, a four-deck, 100-gun, 2,500-ton vessel crossing the Pacific loaded with treasure and not making landfall for six months. Picture it as short and broad—with high fore and stern castles—carrying so much silver and gold, it draws 40 feet of water while skirting coral reefs 30 feet deep. It’s no wonder that close to 100 of them sank from 1570 to 1815, leaving a trail of treasure across the globe, while enhancing the image of adventure on the high seas aboard the MANILA GALLEONS.
Shipwreck
Nowhere in the annals of the Spanish Empire’s colonial history did a treasure fleet attract so much intrigue and notoriety for its precious cargoes bound for the Far East. Maritime historians continue to pay homage to these vessels and their influence on international commerce that lasted for over 200 years. These were the largest ships afloat, plying long and risky routes. Convoys of two to five ships left Acapulco, Mexico, setting sail for the Spanish colony of Manila in the Philippines. On an average, three to five million silver pesos were shipped annually from Mexican mints to Manila, the “Queen of the Orient.” The sliver and gold was waggishly referred to as “silk money.” Silk stockings were prized by the fashionable Spanish gentry in Mexico and Spain. But the silver and gold bought other lavish exports as well. They came from all over the Far East: spices, Ming porcelain, opals, amethysts, pearls and jade. There were art treasures, ebony furniture, carved ivory and other exquisite rarities found only in China, Japan, India, Burma and Siam.
The galleons, after a long and laborious return voyage eastward, often made landfall around Cape Mendocino, California, then sailed on to Acapulco. Once unloaded, the cargoes were transported overland by mule train to Veracruz and then taken by Spanish galleons to Seville, Spain. Five Manila Galleons are known to have sunk off the west coast of the United States. One, the San Agustin, sank in 1595, victim of a gale in Drakes Bay, northwest of San Francisco.
Manila Galleons
Manifests show that one third of all the silver and gold mined in the Spanish New World made its way to the Far East aboard the lumbering Manila Galleons. Ingots and heavy chests of coins were stored over the keel in the main hold, often the only ballast used for draft and stability. The ships also carried supplies to colonists in the Marianas and Philippines. The Strait of San Bernardino, on the eastern end of Luzon in the Philippine Archipelago, separates the Pacific from the China Sea and remains one of the most treacherous passages ships must ply. Even the most seasoned mariners fear entering and exiting the shallow poorly marked waterway. Of the approximately 130 Manila Galleons lost, close to 100 sank within a 50-mile radius of the entrance to this dangerous strait. Some of the vessels simply ran aground on reefs or shoals, while others were lost in storms or sunk by British and Dutch privateers.
Manila Galleons are out there. Picture them if you will, resting in the Pacific Ocean and China Sea–emblazoned with the regalia of Royal Spain and the Roman Catholic Church–waiting to be discovered by modern-day adventurers.
Treasure
Thanks for a very interesting article. I had no idea the Manila Galleons ever existed. I thought that most of the sunken treasure galleons were sunk off Florida and the east coast of the U.S.
It’s interesting that you would say this. I didn’t know much about the Manila galleons either until I started to research these fascinating ships in order to write about them. I didn’t realize the amount of trade they brought back, including some of the exotic cargoes that were aboard ship in addition to the silver and gold coins and bullion. Many of these prized imports were popular with the wealthy aristocrats back in Spain, thus there was a great demand for them. The lengths of the voyages, as well as the treasures, captivated my interest as well. Thank you. Best regards, Ellsworth Boyd Wreckmaster
Have you ever had the opportunity to dive on a Manila galleon? They sound exciting with all those those treasures from the Orient aboard!
I haven’t had the pleasure of divng on a Manila galleon, but adventurer and salvor Bob Marx has been on several of them. He discovered the remains of the San Augustin, sunk in Drakes Bay, Northern California. It had put in for supplies enroute to Acapulco with a cargo of silk, porcelain, gold, silver and oriental spices. State officials wouldn’t allow him to excavate it. Marx also discovered two Manila galleons off the island of Guam, the Nuestra Senora del Pilar and the Nuestra Senora del Buen Viaje. Thanks for writng. Ellsworth Boyd Wreckmaster
Dear Ellsworth,
For what I understand the ones with more precious metals such as gold and silver were the ones going from Acapulco to Manilla (please correct me if I am wrong) In your opinion which one would be the manilla Galleon shipwreck with the most valuable cargo?
Best,
Luis….
In response to the question from Luis; The gold and silver coins and bullion were primarily originating from mines in the western and central provinces of New Spain. The port of Acapulco was used from the beginning of the Manila Galleon trade missions. As the mines in the western provinces were developed and the oldest mines in the central province of Guanajuato diminished; the port of San Blas was built north of Acapulco to facilitate access to the mines in the Guadalajara province which encompassed the present day states of Nayarit and Sinaloa. The port of Cabo San Lucas was the first stop before continuing up the Alta California coast to Monterrey and then west to the Phillipines.
I find it difficult to believe that any “Manila Galleon” would tack over 1,000 miles up the California coast before heading out to the trade winds to cross to Manila. It is more likely they would reach out several hundred miles to the trade winds and then reach up toward Manila. The Galleons were never known to be able to sail close hauled and the thought of these slow and unmanuerable ships fighting the headwinds and current to “beat” up the coast over a thousand miles seems highly unlikely.
Found a very interesting piece of a ?rock ? with vague? inscription on it. Found on the Oregon Beach near Cascade Head, supposed site of many ancient shipwrecks. Would anyone be curious enough to give me an email address so I could send a picture of my treasure for further ID ? No need to send Clive Cussler out yet
Thanks , Bud Lyons