Family finds gold worth $300K during weekend treasure hunt

September 4, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- A fortune in buried treasure lost at sea for centuries has been found by a Florida family.

When Rick Schmitt decided to quit pest control, he launched a family treasure hunting business. Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, they struck gold literally  in $300,000 worth of old Spanish coins and chains.

"To be able to find that and have a pocket full of 1715 Spanish treasure that hasn't been in the hands of a person in nearly 300 years, it's a feeling of excitement, joy," said Hillary Schmitt.

The loot came from a 300-year-old wreck of a Spanish galleon lying just a thousand feet off the beach.

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