Spain has warned Colombia to keep its hands off its sunken 18th Century galleon thought to hold $1billion in lost treasure, found last weekoff the coast of South America.

Jose Garcia-Margallo, the Spanish foreign minister, has said he hopes to come to an cordial agreement with Colombia as both countries try to claim rights to the submerged shipwreck.

It comes just days after Colombian authorities released the first pictures of the wreck of the 300-year-old San Jose.

The San Jose was sunk by the Royal Navy off the coast of Cartagena 300 years ago, carrying up to 11million gold and silver coins, as well as emeralds and other precious stones.

It was transporting the booty back to Spain to help finance its war of succession against Britain.

It had gained a reputation as the 'holy grail' of shipwrecks, as the ship was carrying one of the most valuable haul of treasure ever to have been lost at sea.

The San Jose was found submerged off the coast of Baru in what is now Colombia, near the Rosario Islands. Colombian officials have notrevealed its exact location.

Experts sent down a deep-sea camera to examine the wreckage ahead of a planned salvage operation.

Sonar images reveal bronze cannons made specifically for the ship, arms, ceramics and other artifacts.

To read the complete article, see:
Hands off our treasure! Spain says it holds the rights to galleon the San Jose - and its $1bn worth of gold coins - found in Colombian waters 300 years after it sank (www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3351250/Hands-treasure-Spain-says-holds-rights-galleon-San-Jose-1bn-worth-gold-coins-Colombian-waters-300-years-sank.html)'

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SAN JOSE GALLEON FOUND: THE HOLY GRAIL OF SHIPWRECKS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n49a26.html)
FINDING SHIPWRECKS IS GETTING EASIER AND HARDER (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n49a27.html)