Before you get all excited, you should know that The Santa...

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Before you get all excited, you should know that The Santa Maria was a Spanish merchant ship hired by Christopher Columbus as part of his three-ship fleet for his expedition to the New World.

Columbus made his transatlantic voyages under the sponsorship of Ferdinand II and Isabella I, the Catholic Monarchs of Aragon, Castile, and Leon in Spain.

Having said that, you should also know that Spain will probably claim any riches that might be found on that sunken ship.

And Spain's actions are not without precedent.

In 2009, a federal court in Tampa, Florida, ruled in favor of Spain's claim to a treasure whose value is estimated to be $500 million in silver and gold coins.

I can think of three countries that could lay claims to any riches found on that ship: Haiti, Dominican Republic and Spain.

Haiti and the Dominican Republic could argue that whatever precious metals that are found on that ship were extracted from the Island of Hispaniola and that they are entitled to it.

Taking into account how Haiti has been royally screwed in the past, it remains to be seen if any riches found on that flagship will be shared with Haiti and its people.

Ricart, May 14 2014, 4:03 PM

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