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Blog 6: The Mystery of Tucker’s Cross
Experts have confirmed that the famous Tucker’s Cross, which is on display at the Ocean Discovery Center, is not the original, but a deceptively convincing replica.
The 22-carat gold cross set with emeralds was discovered by Bermudian marine researcher Teddy Tucker in the wreck of the Spanish galleon San Pedro. At the end of the 16th century, the San Pedro sank on her voyage from Cartagena to Cádiz – a ship full of treasures and religious artefacts.
Tucker later sold the gold cross to the Ocean Discovery Center, where it was considered one of the most valuable pieces in the collection. But just before the planned visit of Queen Elizabeth II came the shock: The cross had been stolen and replaced by a replica.
To this day, the original is considered lost. It is assumed that it has long since changed hands on the international art market: https://tinyurl.com/xy
A new riddle begins
To find out who is behind the theft and where the real cross might be, you have to solve several tasks. The solution consists of two terms: x (4 letters) and y (6 letters).
Keep an eye out for the objects listed on the packing list that were displayed in the showcases of the Ocean Discovery Center.
On which ships were these objects found?
Look for the names of these ships on the wreck map.
The marked letters – in the correct order – form the 4-letter solution word x.
In the museum, look out for the gold cross.
The number of emeralds set into it forms the 6-letter solution word y.
Who bought the gold ducats?
The Packing List
Match the items to the wrecks
Only four items belong to the official packing list. On which ships were they found? The display cases in the museum will tell you.
Packing List
Next, you have to find the four ships on the wreck map in the museum and enter their initials in the order of the packing list:
How many stones are set in the golden cross?
You found coin .
Fragment A: “Towards evening we noticed a change in the wind – something unnatural.”
Fragment B: “Hardly an hour later, a sailor shouted: ‘Reef ahead!’”
Fragment C: “The sea was calm, but a faint creaking below deck worried the watch.”
Fragment D: “What happened afterwards was not survived by anyone who could speak of it…”
You found coin T.