A Cursed Ship and the Fate of Its Sunken Gold
In 2022, Gay and Phil Courter were arrested for money laundering linked to the sunken French ship Prince de Conty, which sank in 1746 carrying valuable gold and luxury goods.
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In 1746, the French ship Prince de Conty sank off the coast of Brittany while carrying valuable cargo, including gold ingots. The ship's tragic fate has since inspired tales of a curse associated with its treasure. Fast forward to 2022, Gay and Phil Courter, a semi-retired couple from Florida, found themselves embroiled in a legal scandal linked to this sunken gold. After a cruise in Norway, they were arrested on European warrants for money laundering and trafficking cultural goods related to the Prince de Conty. The couple, known for their adventurous spirit and storytelling, had previously gained media attention during the early COVID-19 outbreak aboard the Diamond Princess, where they were quarantined after a passenger tested positive for the virus. Their experience on the Diamond Princess turned them into minor celebrities as they lobbied for evacuation. The Courters' connection to the Prince de Conty treasure began with a fascination for gold, which has historically driven individuals to obsession and ruin. The ship, part of the French East India Company's trade missions, was laden with luxury goods and gold, which was more affordable in China than in Europe at the time. The shipwreck resulted in the loss of many lives and a failed salvage operation, leaving the gold buried beneath the sea for centuries. The Courters' story intertwines with this historical narrative, highlighting the enduring allure and peril associated with the pursuit of gold.
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