Blackbeard Treasure

In 1996, archaeologists discovered a shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina, less than a mile and a half from the shore and sitting a mere twenty-five feet (7.6 meters) below sea level. It is not particularly uncommon to find a shipwreck, but this is possibly one of the biggest nautical finds in the history of treasure hunting. That's because many people believe the ship was the Queen Anne's Revenge, also known as the flagship of the infamous pirate Blackbeard. In 1718, the Queen Anne's Revenge blockaded the port of Charleston and soon after it ran aground on a sandbar.

So what's the big deal? Well, for starters, Blackbeard was a wildly successful and rich pirate, and the location of his largest and most prized ship, some believe, means his vast fortune must have been located nearby on the North Carolina coast. Since the wreck was found - and it should be noted, it has not yet been confirmed to have been the Queen Anne's Revenge - not an ounce of gold has been found near or on the ship. Before he died, Blackbeard was questioned about the location of his gold, leading him to say, "Only I and the devil know."