The 3 Most Wanted Lost Treasures Of The World

By Alexandria Williams | February 11, 2016

The 3 Most Wanted Lost Treasures Of The World

Centuries ago, most travelers left home for the sole purpose of finding hidden gold and treasure in faraway lands. Traveling was a huge risk to take and though some succeeded in finding their treasure, they didn’t hold onto it for long. Hundreds of lost treasures still exist in the ocean and some explorers have dedicated their entire lives to pursuing these lost treasures worth millions of dollars.

Paititi’s Lost Incan Gold

Estimated to be worth 10 billion dollars, it’s no wonder that numerous anthropologists and researchers have dedicated a lifetime to discovering the lost gold of Paititi. The search for the gold dates back to the 16th century, when the Spanish challenged the indigenous Inca population and fought for their land. Located in Peruvian rainforests, Paititi is thought to be among the last hiding places of the Incas before being conquered by the Spanish and is believed to be the place where they hid most of their gold.

Though researchers never ceased their efforts to find the gold, in 2001, a discovery of an old letter in the Vatican archives revived major interest. In the 17th century, a Spanish missionary wrote a letter claiming to have found the gold and describing the findings in great detail. Researchers have worked closely with the Peruvian government to obtain this treasure since. Scheduled for 2016, French explorer Thierry Jamin will explore a new possible location for Patiti with a helicopter team.

Flor de la Mar

Constructed in 1502, the Portuguese Flor de la Mar was the largest ship of its time when it was built. While most ships lasted four years of service at most, the Flor de Mar was still being used nine years later in 1511 when it took its last fateful trip from what is now Malaysia. Though Captain Afonso de Albuquerque survived, many of his crewmates and beloved ship did not. Centuries later, the remains have never been found. The remains are believed to be near the sight of shipwreck off the coast of Sumatra, an island in Indonesia.

Presumed to be the richest vessel lost at sea, treasure hunting efforts are still in full swing. The search for the treasure is further complicated by several countries fighting for salvage rights. It is presumed that though some valuables may have been salvaged by the locals, the rough waters surely sunk the ship and the majority of its treasure remains at large.

Fabergé Eggs

Leading up to the Bolshevik revolution in 1917, Russian Jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé crafted intricate golden eggs for Czar Alexander and the royal family. Over the course of 30 years, Fabergé produced more than 50 eggs mostly for the royal family, with some created for private clients. When the royal family was assassinated in 1918, Fabergé fled to Germany and his beloved eggs were confiscated.

Though originally confiscated by the Kremlin, the lost eggs have continued to crop up all over the world, most recently in 2012 in the United States. In the late 20th century, the Kremlin opened its archives making it possible to track the eggs. To date just over 40 of the eggs are accounted for in private collections and museums. The remaining eggs are estimated to be worth about 30 million dollars each according to Kieran McCarthy of Wartski, a British antiques dealer. It is assumed that the royal family may have held onto some of the eggs. Others, like the most recent, turned up in antique stalls.