You’ll find Burt Webber’s 1978 rediscovery of the Concepción resulted from systematic archival research rather than luck—he located a forgotten 1687 logbook in Maidstone, Kent, containing William Phips’ precise compass bearings to the wreck site on Silver Shoals. After a failed 1977 expedition with primitive magnetometers, Webber’s team developed the “Burst Baby,” a cesium magnetometer offering ten times greater sensitivity. This technological advantage enabled them to recover 60,000 silver cobs from coral crevices that had concealed artifacts for 337 years, establishing modern archaeological salvage protocols.
Key Takeaways
- Burt Webber discovered the Spanish galleon Concepción wreck on November 26-28, 1978, at Silver Shoals reef in the Caribbean.
- A forgotten 1687 logbook from William Phipps’ salvage expedition provided precise compass bearings that enabled Webber’s successful search.
- Webber’s team developed the “Burst Baby” cesium magnetometer, offering ten times greater sensitivity than standard equipment for detecting artifacts.
- The discovery yielded over 60,000 silver cobs and artifacts from the 1641 shipwreck after previous expeditions had failed.
- Webber secured $2.5 million in funding and salvage rights, establishing archaeological protocols for transparent treasure recovery operations.
From Pennsylvania Brickmaker to Caribbean Treasure Hunter
Born in Annville, Pennsylvania, Burt Webber developed an obsession with sunken treasure at age six that would define his adult life.
A six-year-old boy’s fascination with sunken treasure became the consuming passion that would shape his entire life.
You’ll find his path wasn’t conventional—he worked as a brickmaker, welder, and encyclopedia salesman while raising four children. His childhood dreams of treasure hunting drove him to learn scuba diving and study shipwreck accounts methodically.
He’d participate in a dozen Caribbean expeditions without success, searching intermittently for the Atocha over ten years before Mel Fisher beat him to it. After graduating high school in 1960, he was rejected by the Navy due to asthma, leading him to enroll in the Divers Training Academy in Miami instead.
After five fruitless months at Silver Shoals, he’d return home broke. Yet he’d persist, returning to the brick factory between searches.
This pattern of setbacks and determination would continue until he secured proper funding at age 36, transforming from part-time dreamer to professional salvager. In 1978, his persistence finally paid off when he located the Concepción in the Silver Shoals area where it had remained undisturbed for centuries.
The Tragic Fate of the Almiranta Concepcion in 1641
When the 600-ton nao Concepción departed Cadiz on April 21, 1640, as flagship of the New Spain Fleet, she carried 36 bronze cannons and approximately half the king’s treasure under Vice Admiral Juan de Villavicencio‘s command.
You’ll find the vessel’s fate sealed by bureaucratic constraints—denied repair time in Havana despite arriving one week past safe departure, she sailed into hurricane season on September 20, 1641.
Hurricane devastation struck September 29, snapping masts and scattering the fleet.
Navigation confusion plagued the damaged ship until she struck Abrojos reef October 31, 1641.
Survival challenges claimed 300 lives through drowning, sharks, and starvation. Only 32 passengers in Villavicencio’s longboat escaped, reaching Puerto Plata after four days.
The crown’s treasure remained trapped in coral. Recovery efforts proved unsuccessful for 45 years until Captain William Phipps finally located the wreck. Phipps’ salvage operation recovered over 25 tons of silver from the site.
William Phips and the First Successful Salvage Operation
The Concepción’s treasure remained undisturbed on the Abrojos reef for forty-six years until William Phips secured rights from the King of England in 1685 to locate and salvage the wreck.
You’ll find Phips’ leadership was tested immediately—he confronted armed mutineers directly, knocking down their leaders and securing crew loyalty by promising shares from his personal percentage.
His salvage techniques employed native free-divers trained for extended underwater work, possibly supplemented by diving bell technology.
Operations from February to April 1687 recovered over 68,000 pounds of silver through methodical extraction.
The expedition returned to England with treasure valued between £210,000 to £300,000—equivalent to $78 million today.
Phips had built his reputation through earlier treasure hunting expeditions in the Bahamas during the early 1680s, where he served as captain seeking sunken Spanish ships.
This first successful large-scale treasure salvage operation earned Phips knighthood and established precedents for future maritime recovery efforts.
The story of Phips’ achievement would later inspire Captain Andrew Belcher’s treasure explorations, connecting early salvage operations to subsequent generations of treasure hunters.
Archives Research Unlocks Three Centuries of Mystery
For nearly three centuries, Concepción’s exact resting place eluded salvage hunters until British historian Peter Earle uncovered a forgotten logbook in Maidstone, Kent.
Hidden within a British Admiral’s papers, William Phips’ 1687 voyage document contained precise compass bearings that transformed Webber’s search from speculation to calculated pursuit.
You’ll find that archival breakthroughs drove every subsequent decision.
Webber assembled historians, cartographers, and numismatists who cross-referenced sketchy records with $15,000 aerial photograph-based maps.
Jack Haskins, stationed in the Florida Keys, conducted exhaustive document analysis while researchers in Seville connected critical dots.
The logbook’s historical navigation data proved decisive.
After surveying 1,891 coral heads unsuccessfully in 1977, Webber recalculated his parameters.
The refined coordinates led directly to discovery on November 26-28, 1978—archival precision conquering centuries of mystery.
Phips had become a celebrity upon returning with 32 tons of treasure in 1687, earning knighthood and appointment as Governor General of Massachusetts.
Webber’s recovery of treasure valued at US$13 million was conducted under Dominican Republic Government supervision.
Failed First Attempt With Primitive Magnetometer Technology
January 1977 marked Webber’s ambitious first assault on Concepción’s watery grave, backed by a banking consortium and armed with $15,000 worth of aerial-photography maps.
You’ll find his fishing boat carried sophisticated tracking instruments and a specialized crew—divers, cartographers, numismatists, electronics technicians—all hunting 80 miles north of the Dominican Republic.
Five months yielded crushing defeat despite primitive technology limitations crippling the effort. The onboard magnetometer couldn’t penetrate coral crevices where iron artifacts lay concealed.
Five months of searching ended in failure as primitive magnetometers proved unable to detect artifacts hidden within the coral’s labyrinthine crevices.
Magnetometer detection challenges proved insurmountable: Concepción’s bronze cannons generated no magnetic signature, while iron anchors rested in deeper waters.
The team investigated thirteen shipwreck sites across Silver Bank’s north reef, likely passing directly over their prize without recognition. The admiral ship of Spain’s New World fleet had eluded yet another generation of searchers.
Previous expeditions by Korganoff, Link, and Cousteau had similarly failed against this coral maze. The wreck originally carried 100 tons of silver from Spanish colonial ports when it departed Havana in September 1641.
Assembling the Team and Securing Dominican Republic Rights
Undeterred by five months of magnetometer failures, Webber recognized that technological limitations demanded superior research rather than better equipment.
He partnered with Jack Haskins, a historian who’d analyzed historical documents from his Florida Keys base, producing updated charts that transformed their search methodology.
Team dynamics shifted dramatically when Peter Earle discovered a 17th-century Phips voyage logbook in Maidstone, Kent, revealing precise Silver Shoals coordinates.
This evidence convinced 30 backers to invest $2,500,000 for a properly equipped expedition.
Webber assembled a 16-member crew—divers, cartographers, numismatists, and electronics technicians—aboard a converted British minesweeper.
Legal negotiations with Dominican Republic authorities secured operational permissions, establishing protocols for the site located 80 miles offshore.
Their jurisdiction would ultimately mandate artifact displays in National Museums.
The Burst Baby Magnetometer Makes All the Difference
After exhausting half a million dollars towing standard magnetometers around 1,891 coral heads across Silver Shoals for five months, Webber’s team had detected nothing from the Concepcion’s remains.
Standard approaches had failed completely.
You’d need breakthrough underwater technology. Webber invested one year developing the “Burst Baby”—a diver-operated, hand-held cesium magnetometer adapted from Varian’s portable model. The $17,000 device delivered ten times greater magnetometer sensitivity than any standard equipment worldwide.
The Burst Baby‘s Revolutionary Capabilities:
- Pinpoint Detection: Single divers positioned the sensor head within inches of coral bases, reaching previously inaccessible nooks and crannies.
- Real-Time Feedback: Emitted sonic crackling like a Geiger counter when detecting iron anchors, cannons, or ship fittings beneath coral.
- Digital Precision: Produced surface readouts from minute magnetic field changes.
On November 24, 1978, this innovation finally pinpointed Concepcion’s remains across two areas.
November 1978: Pinpointing the Silver Shoals Wreck Site
In November 1978, you’ll find Webber’s second expedition deploying a converted British coastal minesweeper equipped with advanced magnetometer systems across Silver Shoals, backed by $2,500,000 from 30 investors.
Your 16-member crew now operates with precise compass bearings extracted from Phips’ logbook—a document British historian Peter Earle uncovered in Admiral papers hidden for centuries in Maidstone, Kent.
You’re tracking updated charts that transform sketchy historical accounts into actionable coordinates, positioning your vessel to sweep the exact path Phips recorded 301 years earlier.
Advanced Magnetometer Technology Deployed
Following decades of failed attempts by explorers including Korganoff (1952), Ed Link (1958), and Jacques Cousteau (1968), Burt Webber’s team at Seaquest International Inc. achieved what others couldn’t through systematic application of advanced geophysical survey technology.
Magnetometer advancements revolutionized underwater exploration:
- Varian hand-held cesium magnetometer adapted specifically for submerged operations, detecting ferrous metals like iron anchors through magnetic anomaly readings.
- Missile-shaped magnetometer system towed behind vessels, integrated with GPS coordinate mapping for precise ocean floor metal detection.
- Sophisticated underwater housings protecting sensitive equipment during Silver Bank survey operations.
You’ll understand Webber’s November 1978 breakthrough emerged from methodical data collection. Aerial photography mapped Silver Shoals’ north reef while the magnetometer pinpointed ferrous signatures.
This technological edge, combined with historical log analysis from Phips’ salvage ship *Henry of London*, enabled autonomous discovery without institutional constraints.
Following Phips’ Historical Path
Webber’s November 1978 expedition retraced Phips’ documented route with surgical precision, steering the converted British minesweeper toward the north reef coordinates extracted from the *Henry of London*’s 17th-century log.
You’ll find that Phips’ navigational techniques provided a 150-yard radius target zone on Silver Bank’s northern edge. Within this calculated perimeter, Webber’s crew discovered iron fittings and pottery shards on November 27th—concrete evidence validating treasure mapping strategies derived from three centuries of archival research.
The breakthrough came when divers located a 17th-century Spanish olive jar, rare Chinese cup, and silver pieces of eight dated 1639 or earlier.
Two separated treasure areas emerged 150 meters apart, confirming the *Concepción*’s final resting place with no wooden hull remains—just ballast stones and scattered artifacts proving Haskins’ historical analysis.
60,000 Silver Cobs and Rare Colonial Mint Discoveries
The minting process for silver cobs demanded extraordinary precision despite its crude appearance, transforming molten silver into legal tender through a series of exacting steps.
You’ll find that cob characteristics reveal a fascinating contradiction: irregular shapes concealing exact weight and purity standards. Colonial mint history demonstrates how functionality trumped aesthetics, with hammer-struck planchets prioritizing metal content over complete designs.
Rare discoveries from Webber’s expedition illuminated three critical elements:
- Mexican mint specimens from 1700-1730 preserved pristine shield designs rarely seen on circulated pieces.
- Potosi fraud-era cobs (1650-1652) documented the infamous scandal that rocked colonial silver production.
- Pre-clipped 8 Reales showcasing original edges before widespread shaving stripped their integrity.
These finds liberated numismatic understanding from incomplete land-based collections, revealing untampered specimens frozen in maritime time.
Legacy and Aftermath of the Modern Concepcion Recovery
You’ll find the Concepcion’s recovery transformed treasure hunting through its documented split between Seaquest International and the Dominican Republic, with the government retaining significant artifacts under their exclusive licensing agreement.
The 60,000 silver cobs and associated specimens established archaeological protocols for underwater salvage while providing museums in Santo Domingo with irreplaceable 17th-century colonial mint examples.
Post-1978 activity continued as crews located thirteen additional shipwrecks during search operations, though the site’s numismatic legacy rests primarily on the rare 1621-1622 Cartagena and Santa Fé reales that predate previously known minting records.
Treasure Distribution and Value
Following Webber’s November 28, 1978 rediscovery, Seaquest International Inc. secured exclusive salvage rights from the Dominican government and recovered thousands of eight reales coins from two distinct debris fields located 150 meters apart.
The stern section’s treasure valuation reached approximately thirteen million dollars, funded by thirty backers contributing $2,500,000. Silver distribution from both 1978 and 1986 expeditions entered private markets as authenticated specimens.
Treasure allocation breakdown:
- You’ll find Dominican Republic retained permanent museum collections at Casas Reales and Faro Colon—preserving your historical access to colonial maritime heritage.
- Private investors received certified coins with detailed provenance documentation, establishing transparent ownership chains.
- Commercial markets offered authenticated pieces with gold bezels, enabling direct acquisition of tangible historic artifacts.
This framework established precedent for transparent salvage operations, distributing recovered wealth across governmental, institutional, and individual stakeholders through 1986.
Archaeological and Historical Significance
Beyond its commercial success, Webber’s 1978 rediscovery revolutionized maritime archaeology through systematic methodology that replaced speculative treasure hunting with evidence-based exploration.
You’ll find the recovered artifacts established unprecedented numismatic significance—earliest known mint examples from Mexico, Cartagena, Santa Fé, and Potosí documented Spanish colonial monetary systems from 1600 to 1641.
The Dominican Republic recognized this archaeological preservation value by granting permanent museum display status at Casas Reales and Faro Colón in Santo Domingo.
Webber’s technological innovations—aerial photography mapping, hand-held cesium magnetometry, and historical document analysis of Henry’s 1687 salvage logs—created replicable protocols that freed future researchers from inefficient search patterns.
His recovery of specialized artifacts including religious seals, Ming porcelain, and Puebla ceramics provided material evidence of 17th-century trans-Pacific trade networks previously known only through written records.
Post-Discovery Site Activity
When Webber’s Seaquest International Inc. completed its initial recovery phase, the Concepción site entered a prolonged period of continued exploitation that lasted decades beyond the 1978-1979 operations.
You’ll find the Dominican government’s exclusive licensing framework established precedent for site management, though periodic salvage attempts yielded diminishing returns.
The wreck’s artifact preservation took two distinct paths:
- Government-retained treasures now reside permanently in Santo Domingo’s Casas Reales and Faro Colón museums, accessible to public viewing.
- Commercial distribution channels flooded retail markets with approximately 60,000 silver cobs, democratizing ownership beyond institutional control.
- Auction house sales through establishments like Pook & Pook enabled private collectors to acquire documented Concepción artifacts.
The technological innovations—particularly Webber’s magnetometer development—fundamentally transformed treasure hunting methodologies, establishing standards you’ll recognize in modern underwater archaeology protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Money Did Burt Webber Personally Earn From the Treasure?
You won’t find documented Burt Webber earnings from treasure recovery. Evidence shows investors barely broke even after expenses, but Webber’s personal compensation remains unspecified. The venture prioritized backer returns over individual profit, leaving his actual take undisclosed.
What Specific Technology Made the Burst Baby Magnetometer More Sensitive?
Like a compass finding true north, you’ll discover the self-oscillating split-beam Cesium Vapor system provided the sensitivity enhancement. This magnetic technology achieved 0.004 nT/√Hz RMS sensitivity, enabling detection of smaller ferrous targets with unprecedented precision and accuracy.
Did Any Descendants of Concepcion Survivors Claim Rights to the Treasure?
No descendants claimed Concepcion treasure rights. You’ll find zero descendant testimonies in documented salvage records from Webber’s 1978 recovery or subsequent operations. All Concepcion treasure claims remained between Webber’s team and Dominican authorities exclusively.
How Were the 60,000 Silver Cobs Distributed Among the Investors?
Unfortunately, you’ll find no blockchain-verified treasure distribution records exist. Specific investor shares weren’t publicly documented, though backers received portions of the 60,000 silver cobs through private agreements with Webber’s salvage operation, leaving exact percentages undisclosed.
What Happened to the Concepcion Wreck Site After the 1978 Recovery?
The site continued yielding limited recoveries intermittently under Seaquest International’s exclusive license, though wreck site preservation wasn’t prioritized. You’ll find treasure hunting ethics questioned as commercial promotion dominated, while jurisdictional disputes between Dominican Republic and UK/TCI remain unresolved.
References
- http://thethunderchild.com/GhostGunsVirginia/TreasureWrecks/BurtWebber.html
- https://shipwreckcoinsartifacts.com/pages/history-of-the-concepcion
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGuQMgW2zGA
- https://cannonbeachtreasure.com/pages/concepcion-1641
- https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Lost_Treasure_of_the_Concepcion.html?id=QdAPAQAAIAAJ
- https://steemit.com/history/@pinkspectre/concepcion-in-search-of-shipwrecked-treasure-3
- https://www.secondstorybooks.com/pages/books/1361561/burt-webber-john-grissim/the-lost-treasure-of-the-concepcion-the-story-of-one-of-the-worlds-greatest-treasure-finds-and-burt?soldItem=true
- https://shiplib.org/index.php/shipwrecks/iberian-shipwrecks/spanish-and-the-new-world/nuestra-senora-de-la-concepcion-1641-2/
- https://www.blanchardgold.com/market-news/nuestra-senora-de-la-concepcion-shipwreck-coins/
- https://pookandpook.com/treasure-of-the-concepcion/
