America's Greatest Recovery
America’s Greatest Recovery
In September of 1857, society anxiously awaited the famous “Ship of Gold” in New York in efforts to save the world’s economy. Newfound wealth from the California Gold Rush seemed to be the only answer to the financial chaos within the world. Eager to spread the luxuries of the alluring yellow metal, men and women began an intriguing odyssey of an unfortunate demise.
This odyssey began on a steamship out of San Francisco, California called the S.S. Senora. This had the largest shipment of gold ingots, bars, coins, nuggets, and dust from the California Gold Rush along with other various forms of gold accounting for nearly $2 Million ($300 Million today). The journey from California to Panama City was successful and the treasure was sent by train to the private storage of the S.S. Central America.
Operating under federal mail contract, only men of proven reputation and experience, along with a US Navy Captain, William Herndon, had the qualifications to make this journey with their families. The S.S Central America boarded 578 passengers and crew members.
As their expedition commenced, the 280 ft. sidewheel steamer also began a fight against weather conditions that would bring the ship to a ghostly fate. After 2 days of category 2 hurricane force winds, the women and children began to be placed on lifeboats. For the men and crew members that were left, only hours later, a tremendous wave broke timbers and forced the ship of treasure at a sharp angle sending the S.S. Central America to rest in darkness 8,000 feet to the Atlantic floor. Only 153 of the 578 members made their footing back onto American soil.
The banks of New York fell into financial difficulties and the Ship of Gold’s demise helped induce the first world financial crisis, also known as the Panic of 1857.
130 years later in 1987, Bob Evans, chief scientist of the S.S. Central America, unearthed what we know today as America’s greatest treasure. Found 200 miles off the Carolina coast, the first recovery team brought up around 50 pounds of gold dust, 10,000 coins, and 577 monetary ingot gold bars. The second recovery of treasure was in 2014 and brought more than 15,000 gold and silver coins, 45 gold bars, hundreds of nuggets, and gold dust.
Various minting facilities now have an opportunity to share the history through the production of commemorating coins while implementing actual gold from the wreckage of the greatest treasure ever lost and found in American history.
Prestige Metals Exchange is a proud distributor of the S.S. Central America gold commemorative coins. These are privately minted at the Fiji Mint facility with very exclusive and limited productions. These coins have just arrived from NGC after being graded and authenticated in order to ensure weight and purity.
If you’d like to own a piece of history, shipwreck coins are a great place to start, and this is no exception. Allotments of coins are extremely limited thanks to the high demand for these items, but we have acquired our inventory for the lowest possible prices. Check out the highlights of what we have to offer!
During the California Gold Rush, methods of transportation were typically by ox-drawn wagons which took months for the general public to get across the US. Which is why Bob Evans was so surprised to find the only “O” minted gold coin from the ship’s wreckage counter stamped by a J.L. Polhemus who was a pharmacist in Sacramento, California. This was during a time when it was very possible for the New Orleans facility to mint their coins with gold used from the California Gold Rush. Bob described this coin as his favorite discovery from the sunken treasure.
In honor of the only New Orleans coin discovered from the debris of the S.S Central America, PME ordered the production of only150 of the commemorative 1854-O $2.5 American Gold Liberty minted with actual gold from the famous ghost ship relics. These are guaranteed to have the same weight and purity as the original production. Minted in a reverse proof strike, these coins have been graded as flawless RVPF-70 by NGC with the First Day of Issue pedigree and authentically hand signed by Anna Cabral. All of our coins will come with a certificate of authenticity. Call one of our professional representatives today and ask about our S.S Central America gold commemorative program!
In the midst of the California Gold Rush, even the New Orleans Mint facility had access to the alluring yellow metal of the West. With an original mintage of only 24,000 coins, this 1854- O $3 Gold Indian Princess instantly became a key date year for this favorable series. Due to being the only gold coin of its denomination to have been minted at the New Orleans facility, collectors surge the market with demand for this production. Being that the rarity makes these coins hard to obtain, the premiums on quality coins for this production are extravagant.
Our clients are now able to hold a piece of historical significance without the grand premiums of the rare gold market while appreciating the certainty that they were produced with the gold rush treasures found from the California odyssey of the S.S. Central America.
In honor of the California Gold Rush’s sunken treasures, PME ordered the production of only 165 of the commemorative 1854-O $3 Gold Indian Princess. These are guaranteed to have the same weight and purity as the original production. Minted in a reverse proof strike, these coins have been graded as flawless RVPF-70 by NGC with the First Day of Issue pedigree and authentically hand signed by Anna Cabral. All of our coins will come with a certificate of authenticity. Call one of our professional representatives today and ask about our S.S Central America gold commemorative program!
