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| (1556-1622) Boliva 8 Reales Nuestra Senora del Rosario |
Bolivia
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8R (1556-1622) BOLIVIA Senora del Rosario
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NGC PR 1
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From the Internet:
"The Nuestra Señora Del Rosario was one of the ill-fated ships in the legendary “Spanish Treasure Fleet” of 1622. These 28 ships, laden with treasure from the New World, were hit by a storm that sank eight of their number. Luckily, some coins from the Rosario were discovered, making them some of the scarcest shipwreck coins ever! This is your chance to secure an 8 Reales silver coin now from the famous shipwreck, certified and slabbed by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as official Shipwreck Effect!
One of history’s most tragic – and expensive – maritime disasters, the loss of the eight treasure-laden ships from Spain’s 1622 flotilla changed the course of world events. From 1530 to 1735, Spain received a biannual convoy of ships from the New World. The valuable treasure the ships brought home enabled Spain to pay off foreign money leaders and the steady income made Spain a superpower. In 1622, Spain was hip deep in the Thirty Years War against the French and Dutch and the loss of the Nuestra Señora Del Rosario along with the seven other ships destroyed the Bank of Madrid – and even contributed to the collapse of the Spanish Empire.
The shipment in 1622 looked to be one of Spain’s biggest hauls yet. There was so much treasure to be loaded that it delayed the fleet’s departure by more than two months, forcing the fleet to leave in August just as the hurricane season was blowing into the Caribbean. By the time the fleet reached the Florida Keys powerful winds and high seas battered the ships and the convoy became separated. Twenty vessels managed to make deeper water and were able to ride out the storm. The eight ships in the rear of the convoy were caught and were either destroyed on shallow reefs or capsized and sank. The two most famous ships lost were the Atocha and the Santa Margarita.
Spain spent years trying to recover the treasure, but after another hurricane blew in and scattered what remained of the ships, the efforts were eventually abandoned only to be renewed centuries later by modern treasure hunters equipped with the high-tech equipment and modern diving techniques. The remains of the Nuestra Señora Del Rosario were first discovered in 1989 around 400 miles from the Florida Keys. Even though experts believed it was part of the fabled 1622 fleet, her identity wasn’t confirmed until 2013. Besides the gold bars and silver Pieces of Eight that were found, one of the more unusual items discovered was a cache of more than 6,000 rare pearls. The gems came from a type of oyster unique to South America and nearly extinct by the early 17th century thanks to over-exploitation by colonial traders.
Coins form the Nuestra Señora Del Rosario shipwreck are among the rarest shipwreck coins in the world. Only 332 coins of all denominations have ever been certified by NGC with the Rosario shipwreck designation. These 8 Reales recovered from the Nuestra Señora Del Rosario are the fabled “Pieces of Eight” from pirate lore struck from 1556-1622 and minted in fine 93% silver. Coins like this circulated throughout the Americas and were legal tender in the United States up until 1857!"
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| Silver 4 Reales Cob from the Sao Jose Shipwreck |
Mexico
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REALES MEXICO 4 (1589-1617)MO F M06.003/05/2096.107
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NGC SHIPWRECK EFFECT
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This is a silver cob that was minted in Mexico City during the time Spain was expanding into the New World. The Sao Jose' wreck which was discovered off the coast of Eastern Africa was in route from Lisbon, Portugal with various coins aboard.
While searching for a coin from this shipwreck, I noted that much of the 4 Reales were severely effected by the salt water or "shipwreck effect." This coin in particular stood out as it is relatively round with a decent shield and cross. The next slot which is the 8 Reales is the true beauty from this Shipwreck!
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| Silver 8 Reales Cob from the Sao Jose Shipwreck |
Mexico
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REALES MEXICO 8 (1618-22)MO D M06.003/05/2085.003
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NGC SHIPWRECK EFFECT
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This Treasure coin is simply WOW! The prior slot is a 4 Reales from the Sao Jose' Shipwreck whose reverse has a rather nice cross. This 8 Reales however is probably the best looking coin I have ever encountered from the Sao Jose' coins available on the market. For those that are familiar with the Sao Jose', you will recognize the Grade 1 sticker on the slab. Most all were labeled 1-4 to classify the effect that the seawater had on the silver. Unlike gold, silver tends to deteriorate with exposure to the sea. This coin is one of the highlights of this set in my opinion. It has such good relief and detail remaining vs. other coins from this wreck. Not to mention it is fully round!
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| (1621-1630)MO Mexico 8 Reales Spice Islands Shipwreck |
Mexico
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8R (1621-30)MO MEXICO PHILIP IV Spice Islands Shipwreck
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NGC GENUINE
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I purchased this coin from the 63rd Houston Money Show. As a shipwreck collector, I was surprised to see this particular coin because I had not run across it before in a NGC slab. After some brief discussion, I learned that it was a rather fresh batch from a recent salvage operation. The dealer had quite a few examples of this exact date and type at a more than fair flat price! I spent some time picking one out that had what I would call a Grade 1 obverse and reverse in respect to the available inventory at the table.
The Spice Islands are a small group of islands NE of Indonesia. An unknown ship is presumed to have sunk circa 1630 leaving behind several chests of 8 Reales minted in Mexico City and Potosi during the reign of King Philip IV of Spain. Given how long it was at the bottom of the sea, this is a really good example given the effects saltwater has on silver.
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| (1542-1555) Mexico 4R Carlos & Joanna Golden Fleece Shipwreck |
FRANCE - TO 1600
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ECU'OR 1565F FR-378 CHARLES IX (9.78g) Golden Fleece
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NGC XF Details
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I was excited to find this coin on eBay one evening. I was not well rehearsed on the Golden Fleece Shipwreck. This old Carlos & Joanna 4 Reales was certified by NGC as "Sea Salvaged" along with the "Golden Fleece" annotation on the holder. This added another shipwreck to the collection. The story of John Bannister and the Golden Fleece is an interesting one and worth a Google search.
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| 1695L Peru 8 Reales Association Shipwreck |
PERU 1659-1826
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8R 1695L R (25.86g) Association (1707)
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NGC VF Details
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From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Association_(1697)
"In October 1707, Association, commanded by Captain Edmund Loades and with Admiral Shovell on board, was returning from the Mediterranean after the Toulon campaign. The 21 ships in the squadron entered the mouth of the English Channel on the night of 22 October 1707 (Old style). At 8 pm, Association struck the Outer Gilstone Rock (see image)[3] off the Isles of Scilly, and was wrecked with the loss of her entire crew of about 800 men. As a result of navigational errors, the ships were not where they were reckoned to be. Association was seen by those on board HMS St George to go down in three or four minutes' time. Among the dead were Captain Loades and Admiral Shovell, his stepsons Sir John Narborough and James Narborough (sons of Shovell's wife from her marriage to Rear Admiral Sir John Narbrough) as well as Henry Trelawney, second son of the Bishop of Winchester. Captain Loades was the son of Rear Admiral Narbrough's sister.[4] Three other ships (HMS Eagle, HMS Romney and HMS Firebrand) were also lost, bringing the death toll to nearly 2,000.[5] The Scilly naval disaster was one of the greatest maritime disasters in British history. It was largely as a result of this disaster that the Board of the Admiralty instituted a competition for a more precise method to determine longitude. There is a memorial depicting the sinking of the Association in the church at the Narboroughs' home of Knowlton near Dover."
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| 1715 Fleet (1677-1705) Mexico 8 Reales |
MEXICO - TO 1823
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8R (1678-1701)L CHARLES II 1715 Fleet (25.63g)
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NGC VG 10
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I am especially proud of this coin as I purchased it raw and sent it to NGC for grading with all my supporting documentation. There are quite a few gold 1715 Fleet coins on the open market that a collector can purchase however this is not the case for a 1715 Fleet silver cob. Do a quick search and you will have a tough time locating a slabbed and graded piece on eBay, Collectors Corner, etc. After months of searching, I decided to buy a raw cob that was salvaged in the late 1970's by now deceased Roger Miklos. His son currently is the star of Cooper's Treasure. The cob came in a nice presentation folder with associated COA. As suggested by NGC, I sent the coin in with all the appropriate back-up. I was expecting a grade of "Shipwreck Effect" but was very surprised to see that this coin came in at a VG10. Not only was this coin part of the 1715 Fleet but it did well enough during its time in the sea to still see a proper grade. The full date is not visible but NGC places this Piece of 8 in the 1677-1705 range of Charles II. There has been much silver found in Southeast Florida but rarely do you see it graded in a holder. Definitely proud of this treasure coin and not to mention its salvage history with the (at the time) famous Miklos.
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| 1715 Fleet (1694-1713) Columbia 2 Escudo |
COLOMBIA - COLONIAL
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2E (1694-1713) CHARLES II TYPE 1715 Fleet (6.8g) 300th Anniversary Find
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NGC MS 64
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From the Seller:
"On July 24th, 1715, Spain’s treasure-rich “New Spain” Fleet sailed from Havana, Cuba with a cargo valued at fourteen million pesos in silver, gold and jewels. One week into the voyage near present day Vero Beach, Florida they were met by a furious hurricane resulting in the loss of eleven of the fleet’s twelve ships and 700 lives. Only one ship, a chartered French vessel, survived. Fourteen million pesos in registered treasure were lost in one of the worst maritime disasters of all time. The wreckage of 11 ships was strewn over a forty mile area from Ft. Pierce to Cape Canaveral on Florida’s east coast.
For nearly 250 years the sea would hold the treasure captive. Only occasionally tossing a blackened silver peso or gold escudo that were stuck together at would-be discoverers 100 feet from the Florida shoreline. In 2015 only 295 gold coins were found by divers exploring the area on the 300th anniversary of the disaster. Tightly controlled, all of these would be sold in 2016 and 2017.
This is a very high grade Columbia 2 Escudo Charles II type NGC MS64 from the 1715 Fleet 300 Anniversary find. It will be very hard to find anything from the shipwreck nicer than this specimen."
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| 1724 Gold Ducat from the Akerendam Shipwreck |
NETHERLANDS 1601-1816
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DUCAT 1724 Netherland UTRECHT AKERENDAM WRECK
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NGC MS 63
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From the Internet:
"Akerendam was a ship of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), built in 1724. On January 19, 1725, the Akerendam left in convoy with two other ships, heading for Batavia with a crew of 200 people and 19 chests of gold and silver on board. On March 8, 1725 the Akerendam drifted in a snow storm and sank near the cliffs of Runde island (Norwegian west coast). Despite the fact that the ship was wrecked close to the shore there were no survivors.
During the next months, 5 chests of coins were recovered. No more was found and the site was forgotten until Swedish and Norwegian sports divers rediscovered the wreck site in 1972. Although little remained of the ship, about 57,000 gold and silver coins were recovered. The 6,600 gold coins were mostly the rare Dutch gold ducats, minted in Utrecht in 1724; prior to this find only a handful of these ducats were known. Norway's largest coin treasure is also referred to as 'the Runde Treasure'
The Norwegian share of the Runde treasure was divided between the University of Oslo’s Coin Cabinet and Bergen Maritime Museum. In January of 2011, some of the coins from the Maritime Museum were transported back to the island for an exhibition at Runde Miljøsenter. The divers' portion of 75% of the treasure was auctioned in Switzerland in 1978."
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| 1729 Gold Ducat from the Vliegenhart Shipwreck |
NETHERLANDS 1601-1816
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DUCAT 1729 Netherland HOLLAND Vliegenthart
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NGC MS 62
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This beautiful gold coin was recovered from the Vliegenthart or "Flying Heart" which was owned by the Dutch East India Company who focused on the trade route around the Cape of Good Hope to the East Indies. She was commissioned in 1730 and carried 42 guns for her trade voyages. The ship sank in February of 1735 in Dutch Waters due to a strong gale that swept it into a sandbar. Everyone perished in 60' of water and attempts were made to salvage the small hoard of silver and gold that was to be used for trade but the East India Company was unsuccessful. In 1977 a team of researchers discovered a secret company map that pinpointed the wreck and salvage operations began. Below is an excerpt from online describing the "Ducat"
"The gold coins were the legendary Dutch Ducats. These coins were struck to help the Dutch East India Company establish trade markets in the East Indies and soon became one of the worlds most respected trade coins. Featuring a knight in armor on one side surrounded by the motto 'Through harmony small things increase' and an inscription on the other side which reads 'Gold money of the United Provinces of the Netherlands and their imperial law', the design remained unchanged from ruler to ruler. Some of the gold Ducats aboard the Vliegenthart were machine-made coins of the era, manufactured from hand-cut planchets on a screw press. Others, made by the ancient method of hand-hammering, have somewhat less detail in the stroke and are more erratic in shape as is typical of a hand made coin. All gold Ducats recovered from the Vliegenthart are dated 1729. They never entered circulation, and because gold does not corrode, they appear almost exactly the same as the day they were struck even after 250 years in sea water."
Read more at http://www.oceantreasures.org/pages/content/famous-wrecks/the-dutch-v-o-c-vliegenthart.html
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| Princess Louisa Spanish Colonial 4 Reales |
Spain
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4R SPANISH COLONIAL (1598-1651) Salvor's Reserve Hoard
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NGC GENUINE
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This is a Spanish Colonial 4 Reales that was recovered from the Princess Louisa. This was an English ship that was used by the East India Company. It met her fate on a 4th voyage on the way to Bombay. While in route with the Winchester (another English ship), a reef caught her hull off the Cape Verde Islands of Africa. 74 of the 115 crew perished with 41 making it to shore using floating debris. An attempt was made to salvage the 20 chests of nearly 70,000 ounces of Spanish coins but that failed. 225 years went by until more modern salvage operations were successful. This group of coins were some of the best examples set aside by the original ship salvors that were eventually marketed with the help of NGC. Very neat history and not a common shipwreck coin you can find very easily on the open market.
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| Princess Louisa Mexico 8 Reales |
Mexico
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8R (1598-1733) MEXICO Salvor's Reserve Hoard
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NGC GENUINE
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This is a Mexico 8 Reales that was recovered from the Princess Louisa. This was an English ship that was used by the East India Company. It met her fate on a 4th voyage on the way to Bombay. While in route with the Winchester (another English ship), a reef caught her hull off the Cape Verde Islands of Africa. 74 of the 115 crew perished with 41 making it to shore using floating debris. An attempt was made to salvage the 20 chests of nearly 70,000 ounces of Spanish coins but that failed. 225 years went by until more modern salvage operations were successful. This group of coins were some of the best examples set aside by the original ship salvors that were eventually marketed with the help of NGC. Very neat history and not a common shipwreck coin you can find very easily on the open market.
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| (1726-40)I France ECU La Dramadaire |
France
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ECU (1726-40)I FRANCE La Dramadaire
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NGC GENUINE
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From the Internet:
"Talk about collateral damage! The famous wreck of the French treasure ship La Dromadaire was due in no small part to an ongoing conflict between France, Spain and Great Britain.
Thanks to the political upheaval created by the Anglo-Spanish War of 1762-1763, French authorities asked the French East India Company to chart a new course for its ship La Dromadaire (which is French for “camel”) that would avoid possible interceptions by English privateers. Laden with 20 guns, 1,000 cannon balls and a chest of silver, La Dromadaire set sail from the Port of Lorient on February 6, 1762. Ensnared not by pirates, but by bad weather, La Dromadaire was carried into the dangerous reefs off the island of Sao Vicente and broke in two on February 19, 1762, sinking with 77 souls and its entire cargo valued at around $6.8 million.
More than two centuries later, the La Dromadaire wreck site was found during a survey of San Vicente Island. Salvors quickly began excavating the site and were able to recover 19 cannons, a semi-precious stone from a ring and 3,377 silver coins. The coins were struck between 1700 and 1762 and feature either the portrait of King Louis XIV – the great Sun King – or his great-grandson, King Louis XV. Each coin was struck in nearly an ounce of 91.7% fine silver and has been graded by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as being in Genuine Shipwreck condition.
These are fascinating coins that not only come from a well-known shipwreck, but also represent an important historical milestone in American history. You see, following the loss of the La Dromadaire, the French, English and Spanish sat down and signed the Treaty of Paris that brought the Anglo-Spanish War to an end. The terms of the treaty saw the British withdrawing from Cuba and Spain handing Florida over to Great Britain. To compensate for their ally’s losses, the French ceded Louisiana to Spain as part of the Treaty of Fontainebleau following the end of the French and Indian War, which Europeans referred to as the Seven Year’s War of which the Anglo-Spanish War was part of."
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| 1770 1/2 Real from the El Cazador |
Mexico
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1/2R 1770MO M MEXICO EL CAZADOR
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NGC GENUINE
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This is a 1/2 Reale from the El Cazador ship wreck. The next slot is also a 1/2 Reale however this obverse design is a Pillar Dollar. Although the El Cazador is not the most prominent shipwreck in maritime history it did play a significant role in the history of the Spanish new world due to its sinking prior to reaching New Orleans. My goal is to obtain each of the denominations of 1783 (1/2R, 1R, 2R, 4R, & 8R) which is the prevailing year of coinage on the vessel prior to its sinking in 1784.
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| 1783 1/2 Real from the El Cazador |
Mexico
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1/2R 1783MO FF MEXICO EL CAZADOR
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NGC GENUINE
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This is the 1783 1/2 Reale from the El Cazador ship wreck. Although the El Cazador is not the most prominent shipwreck in maritime history it did play a significant role in the history of the Spanish new world due to its sinking prior to reaching New Orleans. My goal is to obtain each of the denominations of 1783 (1/2R, 1R, 2R, 4R, & 8R) which is also the year the ship sank.
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| 1783 Real from the El Cazador |
Mexico MEXICO - TO 1823
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REAL 1783MO FF MEXICO EL CAZADOR
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NGC GENUINE
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This coin is part of the "Mexican Silver" I have from the El Cazador wreck. It is a single Real with a very nice obverse and reverse. This denomination is typically harder to find with good detail. Although the silver is a bit more tarnished versus my other El Cazador coins, it's strike is very pronounced for having been retrieved from the Gulf of Mexico.
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| 1783 2 Reales from the El Cazador |
MEXICO - TO 1823
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2R 1783MO FF EL CAZADOR
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NGC GENUINE
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I own a high grade 1783 8 Reales Cazador coin and found a similar example in the 2 Reales denomination. I am aiming to gain all denominations found for the 1783 Mexico City Mint vintage that was lost at sea on the El Cazador.
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| 1783 8 Reales from the El Cazador |
MEXICO - TO 1823
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8R 1783MO FF EL CAZADOR
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NGC GENUINE
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A beautiful example of a 1783 8 Reales from the El Cazador Shipwreck. Most of these coins that were salvaged typically have a strong obverse or reverse only versus both sides. It is rare to get a coin with such a nice strike remaining on both the obverse and reverse after years on the sea floor!
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| 1783 8 Reales from the El Cazador - Whale Cluster |
MEXICO - TO 1823
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8R 1783MO FF EL CAZADOR ""Whale Cluster""
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NGC GENUINE
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Similar to the previous coins from the El Cazador within this collection, this is also a 1783 however it is part of a clump of coins known as the "Whale Cluster" that was recovered. Over 500+ coins made up this cluster of coins. This coin in my opinion is one of the better looking cluster coins with a lot of detail and definition still intact. A neat addition to the El Cazador group of coins I own.
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| 1780 Mo-FF Mexico 8 Reales Hartwell Shipwreck |
MEXICO - TO 1823
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8R 1780MO FF Hartwell (1787)
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NGC GENUINE
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Excerpt from Shipwrecks.com:
"The full-rigged, 3-decked ship Hartwell, Captain Edward Fiott, was wrecked on May 24, 1787, at Boa Vista, Cape Verde Islands, off West Africa, while on her maiden voyage and bound from England to China. She was owned by the British East India Company and was loaded with valuable goods including 209,280 troy ounces of silver.
She was built by Caleb Crookenden and Co. of West Itchenor, West Sussex, launched Hartwell in February 1787, for John Fiott, who claimed she was then the largest ship of her kind in the service of the East India Company.
After severe Atlantic gales on May 20, a mutiny broke out when the crew refused to extinguish lights. Fiott arrested and confined three men, but with half the crew still refusing to obey orders, he changed course and headed for the Cape Verde islands, where he intended to hand over the mutineers to the authorities. However, on May 24, the Hartwell ran onto a reef three leagues north-east of the island of Boa Vista. Although she broke up and sank, all the crew were saved.
The basis of the mutiny was the crew’s desire to seize the treasure Hartwell was carrying, and Captain Fiott’s indecisiveness aggravated the situation. The East India Company conducted an enquiry that led the Company on 22 June 1787 to dismiss him from its service. One of the midshipmen aboard was John Bellingham, who was later notorious as the assassin of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval.
Note: Between 1788 and 1791, under an East India Company contract, the Braithwaite brothers reportedly recovered 97,650 silver dollars from the wreck. Between 1994 and 1996 the South African company Afrimar recovered more coins and artifacts, and from 1996 the Portuguese company Arqueonautas Worldwide S.A surveyed and recovered yet more artifacts from the wreck."
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| 1669P E Bolivia Silver Cob 2 Reales from the Piedmont Shipwreck |
Bolivia
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2R 1669P E BOLIVIA PIEDMONT CB-7287
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NGC GENUINE
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1669 Bolivia 2 Reales Silver Cob from the Piedmont Shipwreck (From the Internet):
"One of a huge fleet of 300 ships on their way to the West Indies to suppress a French uprising, the Piedmont was forced into Lyme Bay during a hurricane on November 18, 1795, that scattered and sank the ships of the fleet all along the Dorset coast. The Piedmont and five other ships (Aeolus, Catherine, Golden Grove, Thomas and Venus) broke apart on Chesil Beach and came to be known collectively as the “Lyme Bay wrecks.” An estimated 1,000 men lost their lives in the disaster, including well over a hundred from the Piedmont alone.
In the early 1980s, the wrecks were salvaged by divers Selwyn Williams and Les and Julia C. Kent, who discovered many silver cobs of the late 1600s on the wrecksite of the Piedmont. It is presumed that the coins had been captured or recovered from a 17th-century wreck and stored in the vaults of the Bank of England for about a century before being transported and subsequently lost again. These coins are usually recognizable by their uniformly dark-gray coloration, a bit sea-worn but not overly corroded."
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| 1808 Admiral Gardner Shipwreck Coin |
INDIA - BRITISH
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10CASH 1808 MADRAS PRESIDENCY (4.7g) ADMIRAL GARDNER
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NGC GENUINE
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This is a rather cheap shipwreck coin but it is a must have in respect to British/Indian history. The Admiral Gardner was in route to India from London when it sank along with two other ships ~80 miles from London. The "10-Cash" coin was minted at the Soho Mint for the East India Company to be used in India. They also owned the ships that sank. This coin was also one of the first in the world to be minted by a steam-powered coin press. The shipwreck was discovered by a fisherman in 1984. It was estimated that this coin spent ~175 years under the sea.
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| 1807 Draped Bust Quarter from the SB Pulaski |
United States
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25C 1807 B-2 SB Pulaski
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NGC PR 1
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This coin is a true Treasure. It comes from one of the oldest shipwrecks in US History. The SB (Steam Boat) Pulaski was a luxury steamer that fell to tragedy after a boiler exploded late one evening in the Atlantic. The ship was salvaged in 2018 and NCS/NGC was chosen to conserve and grade each of the coins found. Most of the coins that were recovered were the personal property of the very prominent passengers that resided in the Southeast. This coin is a great representation of the early coinage being used during that period. How neat is it to own a Draped Bust Quarter from such a storied shipwreck?!? It is a beautiful coin with enough detail remaining to appreciate the coin. The date on the obverse is still very sharp even after being on the bottom of the sea.
From the Internet:
"Built by the Savannah and Charleston Steam Packet Company, the SS Pulaski was designed to be faster and safer than any other steamboat then plying between Charleston and New York. It had spacious accommodations, paddlewheels that were six stories high, and sturdy copper boilers. From the gold leaf-plated wheelhouse to the shining brass fixtures, no expense was spared in its construction. The Pulaski was luxury from bow to stern, and only the wealthiest Americans could afford passage.
On June 13, 1838, the Pulaski left on her fourth voyage with 194 souls on board. That night, around 11 p.m., one of the boilers exploded, practically cutting the vessel in half. Forty-five minutes after the boiler explosion, 135 of the Pulaski’s crew and passengers had drowned, or were scalded to death or crushed by the falling masts. Those left alive in the aftermath made what they could of the damaged lifeboats, with some being forced to make their own rafts.
While other shipwrecks carried massive amounts of coinage in an official capacity, transporting large sums for banks or governments, the smaller number of coins of the Pulaski were those held by individual passengers—personal artifacts with far more history to them than funds simply traveling from bank to bank."
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| 1828 Capped Bust Half Dollar from the SS New York Shipwreck |
United States
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50C 1828 SS NEW YORK
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NGC SHIPWRECK EFFECT
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From the Seller:
"US Capped Bust Half Dollar, 1828, Large second 8 and Square base on the 2 (Overton 108). Slightly more than a dozen US bust half dollars were recovered from the SSNY, most badly corroded and scarcely legible. This 1828, the only one found of this date on the SSNY, is one of the better survivors. Corrosion on the obverse mostly affects the edge and is partially covered by polychrome toning. This half dollar was originally proof-like, almost deep PL, and much of the mirroring remains in the fields, which look blue-black to the camera. A wonderful type coin for the collector of US shipwrecks."
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| 1857 S $20 Gold from SS Central America |
United States
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$20 1857 S SS CENTRAL AMERICA
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PCGS MS 64
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In addition to the gold restrike I own in the prior slot, I opted to purchase this beautiful 1857 S $20 Double Eagle that was recovered from the SS Central America. This coin is brilliant in hand and also received the CAC designation. I appreciate the large holder that showcases not only the coin but some gold dust also recovered from this shipwreck.
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| Gold Nugget from the SS Central America |
United States
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0.40g
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NGC PR 1
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Gold Nugget recovered from the SS Central America. Actual nugget for the original California Gold Rush!
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| 1861 O Seated Half from the SS Republic |
United States
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50C 1861 O W-04A SS REPUBLIC LOUISIANA ISSUE
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NGC PR 1
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This coin is one of my favorites within the set as there is so much history associated it with it. First and foremost, it is a true treasure coin recovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration from the SS Republic. It is also the Louisiana Issue of the 1861 Seated Half Dollar. During that year the New Orleans mint acted as the mint for the US, Louisiana after their temporary succession as well as for the Confederate States of America. A remarkable piece in my opinion. Below is an excerpt from the seller.
"These coins were minted for only 28 days, during the time Louisiana was its own territory separate from the United States. Built in Baltimore and christened in 1853 the USS Tennessee served in both the Confederate and Union Navies, captured by the Confederates during the Civil War. She was considered a High-bird because it ran on steam power and wind She fought vigorously in several Battles. The flag ship of Admiral David Farragut who originally coined the phrase, "Damn the torpedoes-full speed ahead," at the Battle of Mobile. After her hull was damaged in a gale her military career ended purchased by a New York shipping magnate in 1865, and renamed the SS Republic. Extensively repaired she made regular runs from New York to New Orleans with cargo and coins to regenerate New Orleans post-war economy.
The Ship had survived hurricanes before but this time off the coast of Georgia a hurricane brought her down with $400,000.00 worth of gold and Silver coins (1865 face value). She rested 1,700 feet below the surface of the ocean until discovered 138 years later."
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| 1863 S $20 Gold Small S from the SS Republic |
United States
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$20 1863 S SS REPUBLIC SMALL S
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NGC AU 53
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Most $20 Double Eagles that were recovered from the sea command a very high premium especially from the SS New York and SS Central America Shipwrecks. I found a great deal on this SS Republic coin and it so happened to be the Small S variety which are more rare than the typical Medium S for the 1863 mintage. Ironically there were not many high grade examples of the 1863 S until they were found on shipwrecks. Sometimes collectors will crack them out of the shipwreck case to get a grade in a regular case. The idea is that the non-shipwreck coins that were high grade were very rare until the shipwrecks were discovered. Personally I love the fact that this gold came off the sea floor and got an AU53 grade. What a historical piece! Why someone would opt to lose the shipwreck designation is beyond me! Beautiful coin. One of my favorites now.
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| 1871 Great Britain Sovereign from the RMS Douro Shipwreck |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901
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1SOV 1871 G.britain ST.GEORGE R.M.S. Douro Shipwreck
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NGC AU 53
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This is a 1871 Great Britain Sovereign recovered from the RMS Douro shipwreck. The obverse features Queen Victoria with the reverse showing St. George slaying the dragon. The ship itself was part of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company and was in route from Brazil back to Great Britain. After leaving Lisbon, she met her fate by collision with another ship at sea.
From the Internet:
On March 31, 1882, the RMS Douro cast off and sailed full steam ahead towards her destination port of Southampton. She never docked. The officer on watch assumed the officers on the bridge would see the light from an approaching ship, so didn't bring it to their attention. By the time he alerted the bridge it was too late and the Spanish ship, the Yrurac Bat, hit Douro's starboard side, gouging a large dent in her hull. She sunk along with seven of the crew, including the Captain.
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| 2013 G.Britain S50P .999 Fine SS Gairsoppa Shipwreck Silver |
GREAT BRITAIN - DECIMAL
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S50P 2013 G.britain .999 FINE SS GAIRSOPPA SHIPWRECK SILVER
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NGC MS 66 DPL
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The SS Gairsoppa was a British steam merchant ship that was torpedoed by a German U-boat in February of 1941. She was headed to Galway, Iceland to get more coal but never made it after leaving her original convoy heading back to London from Bombay. The wreck was discovered in 2011 and an operation was put in place to recover the vast amount of silver bars she was carrying. In July of 2013, Odyssey Marine Exploration reported that it had recovered 48 tons of silver making it the "the deepest, largest precious metal recovery in history" as the Gairsoppa rests in 15,400' of water. This coin was created using a 1/4 ounce of that silver. The Royal British Mint used some of recovered ingots to produce this silver 50 pence coin in both 2013 and 2014. I purchased this coin raw from a vendor and sent it to NGC for grading. I was happy to receive the DPL grade as not very many in holders have this grade. It is a beautiful coin and a strong reminder of the volatility on the high seas during WWII.
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| 1944 Saudi Arabia 1 Riyal AH1354 (1935) |
SAUDI ARABIA
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RIYAL AH1354(1935) Saudi Arab
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NGC GENUINE
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The SS John Barry was an American Liberty ship in WWII. It was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-859 on August 24, 1944. It was carrying a cargo of 3 million American-minted Saudi one-riyal silver coins as an American payment associated with ARAMCO. The reason for this shipment was that Saudi Arabia did not use paper money at the time and this led to a war-time shortage of currency with which to pay workers building new oil refineries and other US facilities at newly founded Dhahran.
The ship had sunk to 8,500 feet below the sea surface, far beyond the reaches of most undersea recovery methods. The salvage was undertaken by Blue Water Recoveries LTD between October 21st and and November 18th 1994, from the dynamically positioned deep sea salvage vessel Flex LD owned by TRAVOCEAN using an underwater grab designed and operated by IFREMER. The ship was carrying a cargo of 26 million dollars in 1800 tons of silver bullion and 3 million of silver coins.
Most of the coins recovered from the wreck were heavily damaged and corroded from seawater exposure. Only a very limited quantity with this high of a quality in uncirculated condition was hand selected to be authenticated by NGC.
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