Durham Treasure Coins
1871 Great Britain Sovereign from the RMS Douro Shipwreck
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
GREAT BRITAIN 1816-1901 |
| Item Description: |
1SOV 1871 G.britain ST.GEORGE R.M.S. Douro Shipwreck |
| Full Grade: |
NGC AU 53 |
| Owner: |
Durham Collection |
Owner Comments:
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.