The Bom Jesus, a Portuguese ship that departed from Lisbon in 1533, was lost to history for nearly five centuries until its remarkable discovery in the Namibian desert during diamond mining operations near the coast.

This ancient vessel turned out to be a fascinating and valuable find: among the relics uncovered were numerous Spanish and Portuguese gold coins, which helped researchers identify the ship’s origin, as well as approximately two thousand German copper ingots and over 100 elephant tusks. Experts estimate the total value of these ᴀssets at around $13 million.

The uncovering of a centuries-old shipwreck in the African desert, with gold coins and rare artifacts still on board, stands as one of the most thrilling archaeological discoveries in recent years.