18th century wreck found.

An early 18th century wreck has recently been found in 15 meters of water at the Kanholmsfjärden in the entrance to Stockholm. The ship, which is some 25 meters long and 6 m wide, is clinker built and seems to have been partly damaged by fire.

So far 742 silver coins from the years 1635-1718 have been found, together with a copper plate coin from the reign of Karl XII (1702-1718). Another 110 coins are partly melted and too damaged to be identified. Among the coins that have been recovered are various denominations from a one öre coin to a four mark coin and a copper plate coin. All the coins, with the exception of the plate coin, were well contained at the after end of the vessel.

According to Inger Hammarberg, antiquarian and the Kungl. Myntkabinettet, the fact that no nödmynt were found among the coins indicate that the money was used in transcation with foreigners. As nödmynt could not be used outside the Swedish realm.

The wreck, which was found by six divers from the group Team 30FT, was kept secret while Statens Sjöhistoriska Museum (the National Maritime Museum of Sweden) was contacted.

Of the ship, the heavily built afterpart is the best preserved part. In spite of the close framing of the hull, this has opened up and sides of the ship now lies flat on the sand. The rudder has been separated from the wreck and was found laying in the sand.

Further divings will be made later this fall/autumn. A decision on what to do with the wreck will be made based on the result of this investigation.

Reference: Svenska Dagbladet, Stockholm, 1995-09-19.

Updated 1995-09-26 by Lars Bruzelius

Sjöhistoriska Samfundet | The Maritime History Virtual Archives.