1856-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Shipwreck SS Central America PCGS AU58

Pricing:

QUANTITY E-CHECK/WIRE CC/PAYPAL
Any $7,500.00 $7,812.75
Availability: Out Of Stock
Authenticity Guaranteed
By clicking the button, I agree to be bound by your Privacy Policy, User Agreement, Market Loss Policy, Electronic Disclaimer, and Terms & Conditions of Sale.
free gold and silver investment kit

Get Our Free
Investor's Guide

1856-S $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle Shipwreck SS Central America PCGS AU58 Description:

Vibrant yellow and lustrous. SSCA w/pinch

On a dark and stormy night, October 3rd, 1857, the S.S. Central America, bound to New York from Havana, battled the high seas during a Category 2 hurricane. The massive 280-foot, three-masted, side-wheeled, wooden-hulled steamship was hammered repeatedly by the storm, and through fractures in the hull, the water rose higher and higher inside the vessel. Crew and passengers bailed water all through the night, only to have mother nature reign supreme and take the mighty ship under the surface. That night 425 passengers and over three tons of California Gold Rush Gold sank to the deepest, darkest depths of Davy Jones Locker somewhere off the Carolinas. The precious metal cargo on board consisted primarily of thousands of the Twenty Dollar Gold Double Eagle Liberty “Coronet head” coins valued at two million dollars at the time (the modern-day equivalent of $300 million).

The ship became known as “America’s Lost Treasure,” and the loss of this valuable cargo contributed to “The Panic of 1857,” which caused the failure of many New York banks due to the inability to pay creditors directly and meet payroll, both directly correlated to the sinking of this ship. Panic began to spread throughout the Northeastern part of the U.S. and Europe when stores and factories began to close and caused a major financial crash, which in turn resulted in an even greater increase in separation between the Northern States and the Southern Slave-owning states and further sharpening the disdain between the two and pushing the U.S. ever closer toward the American Civil War.

The “Ship of Gold,” as it also has come to be known, was discovered 160 miles off the coast at a depth of somewhere around 7,200-8,500 feet by scientist and explorer Tommy Thompson and his group, the Columbus-America Discovery Group of Ohio.  After a 10-year-long legal dispute with multiple insurance companies (39) that had laid claim to the gold, 92% was awarded to the Columbus-America Discovery team. Large amounts of gold, estimated to be worth $100 million to $150 million, were recovered. In the discovery, along with the 1857-S Coronet Head double eagle coins, the explorers came across an 80-pound gold bar nicknamed “Eureka.” Eureka was sold to a private collector for $8 million. 

In the early 2000s, a large portion of coins became available and consisted mainly of 1856-S and 1857-S $20 Liberty coins. A second round of coins has also been released. Using sable-hair brushes and non-acidic sodium salt baths, the Columbus-America Discovery team began the Herculean task of restoration by hand. They were able to restore the coins to near pristine condition.  

Fortunately for investors around the world, these coins have most recently been sent to be evaluated and graded on the quality of their condition. And many coins from shipwrecks retain their full strikes, details, and original luster. 

Specifications:

More Information
Product Type Coin
Coin Series Pre-33 Gold
Purity 90%
Mint/Refinery U.S. Mint - San Francisco
Mint Mark S - San Francisco
Metal Type Gold
Face Value $20
Grade AU58
Coin Type Investment Grade
Modern or Historical Pre-33
Grade Service PCGS
Year 1858
Metal Weight 0.9675 oz

Latest Blog Posts

Metals Minute Palladium - The Other, Other White Metal
Metals Minute: Palladium - The Other, Other White Metal
Trends reversed this week over last, with platinum and palladium higher and gold and silver lower. Read now to learn about palladium's rising...
Read more
June 8, 2023
49 view(s)
Metals Minute 190: Central Banks Growing Gold
Metals Minute 190: Central Banks Growing Gold
Gold is 7.5% higher, silver is up 9.8%, platinum is up 4%, and palladium, the outlier, is down 30%. Take a cue from central banks and invest in...
Read more
June 1, 2023
125 view(s)
How to Buying Gold and Silver Guide to Precious Metal Investment
How to Buy Gold and Silver: Guide to Precious Metal Investment
Discover how to diversify your portfolio by buying gold and silver. Investing in precious metals is easier than it seems. Read on to find out...
Read more
May 31, 2023
380 view(s)
The U.S. Dollar vs. Gold | Exploring the Relationship Prices
The U.S. Dollar vs. Gold | Exploring the Relationship Prices
Learn how the U.S. dollar and gold prices affect each other in this insightful article from the U.S Gold Bureau. Discover valuable insights for...
Read more
May 30, 2023
337 view(s)