The frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, known for its valuable cargo and subsequent legal dispute, will arrive in Cádiz in September. The exhibition, titled ‘La fragata Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. Una historia en común’ (The frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. A shared history), will allow the public to learn about the ship's history, its sinking, and the recovered treasure.
The treasure, consisting of approximately 2,500 original silver coins recovered from the underwater site, will be available for viewing at the Museo de las Cortes (Museum of the Cortes). The exhibition will be open to the public for over six months, from September 12 to March 31, 2027.
The frigate, which was transporting precious metals from the American viceroyalties for the Spanish Royal Treasury in the early 19th century, was attacked by a British squadron off the coast of Portugal. The incident resulted in the deaths of 275 people and the loss of the cargo.
The recovery of the treasure and the subsequent legal battle against the American company Odyssey Marine Exploration culminated in the return of the cultural assets to Spain in 2012, after more than five years of litigation. The artifacts were deposited at the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQVA).
The exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Cádiz City Council and the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology, aims to bring together for the first time in the city the key pieces of this historical episode, symbolically completing the journey the ship could never finish.
Currently, the Cádiz City Council has initiated the tender process for the transport, packaging, and assembly of the exhibition pieces.
