Spain has demanded to be returned the $500 million treasure that a U.S. deep-sea exploration firm discovered on a wrecked ship the previous year. Spanish officials state that they have evidence to show that the ship in question is the Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes and belongs to them. Tampa, Fla.-based Odyssey Marine Exploration, on the other hand, on Thursday, May 8, rebuffed this claim made by Spain.

 

In 2007, Odyssey declared that it had chanced upon a wreck in the Atlantic, which contained cargo of 500,000 silver coins and valuables worth $500 million. Thereafter, Spain stated that it was its 19th-century warship which the British navy had sunk in southwest of Portugal in 1804. Spain said that the ship had over 200 people on board. The company has responded that that there isn't enough evidence to prove the vessel is the Mercedes.